The country’s parliament on Thursday adopted the fifth article of a new constitutional reform package.
The article, which deals with regulations for job definition and responsibilities of the parliament, is one of the most discussed items, that seeks to end the parliament's authorization to inspect ministers and the Cabinet.
The article was endorsed by 343 of the assembly’s 550 lawmakers. Seven others rejected it, three papers were left blank and one vote was deemed invalid.
The secret voting process was interrupted by physical fights between lawmakers of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party and Republican People's Party (CHP) after CHP members occupied the parliament rostrum.
Thursday marks the fourth day since the debate on the constitutional reforms began in the parliament.
On Tuesday and late Wednesday, the first four articles of the Constitution were adopted.
Those items concerned the exercise of judicial power, an increase in parliament seats, lowering of the age of MP candidacy and regulations on parliamentary and presidential elections, respectively.
Thirteen more amendments proposed by the AK Party will be voted in parliament.
The parliamentary process will likely be followed by a referendum in which the option of replacing Turkey’s parliamentary system with a presidential model will be put to the electorate.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his supporters have argued that Turkey needs a strong presidency to avoid weak governance and allow the country to successfully tackle a number of challenges, including terror attacks from Daesh, the PKK and the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).
Opponents claim it will weaken democratic checks and lead to increased authoritarianism.
To reach a referendum, the proposed changes must first be passed by 330 deputies. If it gets the support of 367 lawmakers it could pass into law without a referendum, although the AK Party said it would hold a popular vote regardless.