Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while campaigning Friday for a referendum on a constitutional reform package to empower his office, suggested he could put forward another popular vote to reintroduce the death penalty. "If the people want the death penalty, then it's done," Erdogan told a crowd in Manisa province, in western Turkey, dpa reported. The referendum on whether to grant more power to the presidency is set for April 16. Critics warn it would erode checks and balances while Erdogan's loyalists say it would stabilize the country. The president again appeared to equate supporting terrorism with voting against the upcoming referendum, saying that "Qandil" - code for the armed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - is against the reform package. "He says to vote 'no.' That's what Qandil says. Is anyone who shares the same outlook not like him?" Erdogan told the crowd. Parliament can put a constitutional change, such as introducing the death penalty, to a referendum if at least 60 per cent of the house approves the measure. A two-thirds majority of legislators can pass a constitutional change without a popular vote. Erdogan has repeatedly indicated since a failed coup last year that he may bring back the death penalty. The European Union has cautioned this could spell the end of Turkey's bid to join the bloc.
