The Turkish Grand National Assembly [official website] approved [Reuters report] on Sunday the final article of a constitutional reform package, which opponents fear will take the country closer toward authoritarianism. Five of the 18 articles were already approved [JURIST report] in the first round on Friday with the support of 340-343 lawmakers. With the approval of the 18th and final article, the first round of voting on the constitutional reforms is now complete. These reforms will essentially turn the government [DW report] from a parliamentary system of governance into a presidential one, thereby increasing the powers of President Tayyip Erdogan [BBC profile] and weakening the powers of the legislative branch. The opposing party, CHP, and the pro-Kurdish HDP party are strongly opposed to these reforms and CHP members came to blows with the ruling AKP party members in the parliament on Friday. Two additional rounds of voting are still needed before the reforms take effect with the final round being a public referendum. The second round is set to begin on Wednesday where each article of the reform package will be debated one at a time.

Since the failed coup in Turkey in July, where Turkish military forces tried to overthrow the Government, the Turkish Government has taken several controversial steps to strengthen its power. In November, Turkey significantly restricted the activities of NGOs [JURIST report] like human rights organizations and children’s groups and arrested opposition party leaders [JURIST report] alleging they were connected to terror organizations. In October, Human Rights Watch [advocacy website] warned [JURIST report] that the emergency decrees put in place after the failed coup, had resulted in serious human rights violations. In July, Amnesty International [advocacy website] condemned [JURIST report] Turkey for attacking the freedom of the press by issuing arrest warrants for 42 journalists.