Constitutional Reform and Presidentialisation of the Regime. Turkey - Egypt: A Comparison

Abstract

Since the beginning of the 2010s, Egypt and Turkey have faced major constitutional reforms where the central issue has been the presidentialisation of their respective political regimes. This chapter analyses the recent constitutional changes in both countries from the starting point of the new Egyptian Constitution promulgated in 2014 and the Turkish Constitution which was amended in 2017. The constitutional developments in both countries are first placed in a historical context where their numerous differences are highlighted. Then, the origins and the deployment of the reforms are presented as well as the campaigns and the results of the referendums that were held. Finally, the Egyptian and Turkish constitutional texts are compared, with a focus on similarities and differences underlined in three fields: the president’s powers, the part played by religion, and the role of the army.