The Monitoring Committee of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) expressed serious doubts about the desirability of holding a referendum under the state of emergency and on-going security operations in southeast Turkey.

The Committee has deep concerns as to whether new constitution granting powers to the president would guarantee the separation of powers, proper checks and balances and the independence of the judiciary, which are a prerequisite for democratic societies.

Besides, the Committee said that stripping of the immunity of 154 parliamentarians in May 2016, the current detention of 11 parliamentarians, all belonging to the opposition party Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), has had a deterrent effect and will lead to serious restrictions to democratic debate in the run up to the referendum.

The Monitoring Committee also deplored that the request for an urgent debate on the situation in Turkey failed to reach a two-thirds majority by the Assembly chamber on 23 January 2017, despite the support of nearly 60% of the PACE members who voted.