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A Turkish politician has handcuffed herself to the rostrum in the parliament building in Ankara in protest against proposed legislative reforms that would give President Recep Tayyip Erdogan unprecedented executive powers.

Aylin Nazliaka, an independent MP, took to the speakers podium during a debate on articles in the lengthy proposed bill and attached herself to the microphone on Thursday.

The proposed reforms which proponents in Mr Erdogans ruling AK party say are necessary to deal with Turkeys fragile economic and security situations would abolish the position of the prime minister, giving the sitting president the power to appoint and dismiss ministers, to once again become head of a political party, and possibly govern until 2029.

Opposition politicians and democracy activists have said the bill is dangerously close to a form of authoritarianism.

Ms Nazliakas protest on Thursday forced parliaments deputy speaker to suspend the discussion on the proposed constitutional reforms for several hours, and eventually led to a fistfight between several female members of parliament which Turkish media said resulted intwo representatives being taken to hospital for their injuries.

During a recess called after Ms Nazliaka handcuffed herself, one MP unscrewed the microphone from the podium, leading to the physical confrontation between members of Mr Erdogans ruling AK party and the opposition.

Safak Pavey, a disabled MP from the main opposition party, told Hurriyet newspaper she was pushed to the ground by a ruling party member while a colleague was dragged by her hair.

Turkey's President Erdogan defends government action

Thursdays events marked the third time debate on the proposed amendments to Turkeys constitution have ended in a brawl.

A final vote on the proposals is expected Friday or Saturday. If approved by parliament, the reforms would be put to a national referendum.

Mr Erdogan has steadily consolidated his grip on power since his election to the largely ceremonial post of president in 2014.

There has been a particular crackdown on members of the opposition, academics, journalists and rights activists since a failed military coupin July last year, after which the government declared a state of emergency.

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Turkish MP handcuffs herself in parliament protesting Recep Tayyip Erdogan getting more executive powers - The Independent

That might explain why the AK Party leadership is pushing the proposals through parliament as quickly as it can. But it is not just the MHPs grassroots that are disgruntled.

Many of Mr Erdoans former comrades-in-arms like his predecessor as president, Abdullah Gl are opposed to an executive presidency. Everyone knows that I see a parliamentary system as a better, more suitable system, Mr Gl told an audience at Londons Chatham House in November 2014. To be able to have that sort of a presidential regime, you need to check everything. You need to have your balances in the right place.

But these days, Mr Gl keeps very quiet. Such isthe extent of the crackdownfollowing last Julys coup attempt, and the environment of fear and intimidation,that not even an ex-president is willing to speak out.

Loved by one half and loathed by the other, Mr Erdoan is the countrys most divisive politician. He could squeeze out a victory in Aprils referendum. That result would strip away the few powers that keep him in check. For Turkeys massive, disenchanted minority, that result would leave no hope.

Michael Daventry is a Turkish journalist based in London and editor of the Turkish community newspaper Haber

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Recep Tayyip Erdogan is about to make himself a virtual dictator in Turkey - Telegraph.co.uk

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Erdogan Says Troops Will Be in Cyprus 'Forever,' Complicating Hopes of Reuniting - New York Times

Turkish lawmakers begin a second round of voting Wednesday on controversial reforms that would hand sweeping powers to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The 18-article constitutional reform package -- put forward by Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) -- would turn Turkey's parliamentary system into a presidential one, effectively consolidating the power of three legislative bodies into one executive branch with the president as its head.

The reforms would also abolish the role of prime minister while granting authority to the president to issue law, declare states of emergency, dismiss parliament and to appoint ministers, public officials and half of the senior judges. It's known as the "power bill."

The bill would also allow Erdogan -- who served as prime minister from 2002 to 2014 before becoming president -- to extend his term in office until at least 2029.

Parliament can change the constitution directly if the bill gets 367 yes votes -- a two-thirds majority -- in the 550-seat assembly. But if the bill only gets between 330 and 366 votes, it must be put to the public in a referendum.

The AKP holds 317 seats and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has 39. Both parties support the changes -- so if all of their members vote yes, they will have 356 votes in favor.

As of Sunday, the AKP had secured more than 330 votes required for the reform package to progress to the next round.

Turkey's main opposition parties -- the Republican People's party (CHP) and the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) -- are against the bill, and the atmosphere in parliament is tense.

After the brawl, the measure was passed, leading the way for further reforms later in the week.

If the bill is passed with the current amount of support it has in Parliament, it will be put to a referendum, likely in April. If the outcome of the referendum is also a yes, it could potentially catapult Turkey into snap elections.

The role of president is largely ceremonial under the current constitution. In order to become president in the new system, Erdogan would have to be reelected after the constitutional changes kick in.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim says elections will be held in 2019 as scheduled.

Opponents fear the reforms will give too much power to Erdogan.

How did Turkey get to this point? Here's a look back at some of the key moments that defined Erdogan's political rise and that helped to lay the groundwork for this historic vote.

CNN's Gul Tuysuz contributed to this report.

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What happens if Turkey passes Erdogan's 'power bill'? - CNN

Turkeys PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdogan was planning to purge the countrys armed forces of suspected dissenters to his government before the failed military-led coup in July 2016, new European intel says.

A secret report written by Intcen - the EUs intelligence agency - found that the hastily organised attempt to overthrow Mr Erdogan last year was motivated by the fact that military generals feared they were going to be subject to an imminent crackdown on the opposition.

The decision to launch the coup resulted from the fears of an incoming purge, the August 2016 report, seen by The Times, read. The coup was just a catalyst for the crackdown prepared in advance.

Before the coup, several factions within Turkeys army were unhappy with the governments attempts between 2013 - 2015 to make peace with the PKK, the militant Kurdish separatist movement, and Mr Erdogans interventionist stance on the conflict in neighbouring Syria.

Rumours of an expected purge joined army followers of the exiled cleric Fetullah Gulen, secularists, and those opposed to Mr Erdogans policies against the Kurds together, providing the momentum for the dramatic failed July 15 takeover.

European intelligence officials also found that the Turkish governments claim that Fethullah Gulen - whom the country is trying to extradite from the US - was behind the plot were unsubstantiated.

Man shouts 'We die in Aleppo, you die here' after shooting dead Russian ambassador to Turkey

It is unlikely Gulen really had the abilities and capacities to take such steps... The Glen movement is very disconnected and somewhat distant from the secular opposition and Turkish army, the report said.

Mr Erdogan has cracked down on Mr Gulens followers since he became president in 2014, as well as civil rights activists, academics and journalists.

Following the July coup attempt, the government declared a state of emergency, during which thousands more deemed hostile to Mr Erdogans ruling AK party have been jailed or fired from state sector jobs.

Turkey is set to hold a spring referendum on legislative reform which would give Mr Erdogan control of the executive branch of government and possibly remain in office until 2029.

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'Planned opposition purge' by Erdogan was catalyst for Turkey's military coup, spies say - The Independent (registration)