Article 76 Of Constitution Debated During Erdogan - Verheugen Meeting

BRUSSELS-DUBLIN - Article 76 of the Constitution saying, ''every Turk over the age of 30 is eligible to be a deputy'' came onto the agenda during the meeting between Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and European Union (EU) Commissioner for enlargement Guenter Verheugen.
Sources said on Thursday that Verheugen told Erdogan about his meeting with Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal that took place during the meeting of the Party of European Socialists (PES) in Warsaw.
The sources noted that Verheugen asked Baykal who the prime minister would be and was responded by Baykal that ''whoever wins the elections will become the prime minister.''
Then, he told Baykal that the article 76 of the Constitution had to be amended in the direction of the Copenhagen criteria, the sources said.
The sources quoted Erdogan as saying after these words of Verheugen that they would make that amendment as soon as possible.
When asked how the amendment would be made, Erdogan said, ''with the support of Baykal'', the sources added.
Article 76 of the Constitution reads, ''every Turk over the age of 30 is eligible to be a deputy. Persons who have not completed their primary education, who have been deprived of legal capacity, who have failed to perform compulsory military service, who are banned from public service, who have been sentenced to a prison term totaling one year or more excluding involuntary offences, or to a heavy imprisonment; those who have been convicted for dishonorable offences such as embezzlement, corruption, bribery, theft, fraud, forgery, breach of trust, fraudulent bankruptcy; and persons convicted of smuggling, conspiracy in official bidding or purchasing, of offences related to the disclosure of State secrets, of involvement in ideological and anarchistic activities, or incitement and encouragement of such activities, shall not be elected deputies, even if they have been pardoned. Judges and prosecutors, members of the higher judicial organs, members of the teaching staff at institutions of higher education, members of the Higher Education Council, employees of public institutions and agencies who have the status of civil servants, other public employees not regarded as laborers on account of the duties they perform, and members of the Armed Forces shall not stand for election or be eligible to be a deputy unless they resign from office.''