THE END OF KEMAL’S TURKEY: With Erdogan’s nod, Turkey set for April vote on stronger presidency.

Erdogan’s supporters see the plans to replace Turkey’s parliamentary democracy with an all-powerful presidency as a guarantee of stability at a time of turmoil. Opponents fear a lurch towards authoritarianism in a country which has seen tens of thousands of people, from journalists to military, detained since a failed coup last July.

A brief statement on the presidency web site said the bill – which would enable the president to issue decrees, declare emergency rule, appoint ministers and top state officials and dissolve parliament – had been sent to the prime minister’s office to be published and submitted to a referendum.

“With the president’s approval, eyes are now on the YSK (High Election Board). The YSK will probably announce that April 16 is the appropriate date for a referendum,” Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told reporters.

“One man, one vote, one time” is poised to come to Turkey.

Really though, all this constitutional change would accomplish is to codify the powers Erdogan has already seized since last summer’s “failed coup.”

REMINDER: It wasn’t a failed coup, it’s a successful purge.