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Turkish referendum on Erdogan powers passed by 51.4 percent - final figures

REUTERS

 

Supporters of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan celebrate in Istanbul. REUTERS/Huseyin Aldemir

 

ANKARA (Reuters) - Final results from Turkey's referendum on expanding President Tayyip Erdogan's powers showed 51.4 percent support for the "Yes" vote to approve the sweeping constitutional changes, the High Electoral Board said on Thursday.

 

The results, which matched the preliminary figures released in the hours after polling closed on April 16, were released despite calls by the opposition to delay a final announcement while they appealed what they said were major flaws in the vote.

 

Erdogan told Reuters this week that he would rejoin Turkey's ruling AK Party once the full results came out, and a senior official said he would be named as a candidate to lead it at an extraordinary congress on May 21.

 

The constitutional changes passed in the referendum allow the president, who will assume executive powers, to retain party political ties. Under the terms of the outgoing constitution, the head of state was supposed to remain politically impartial.

 

European election observers and Turkish opposition parties criticised the referendum, which was held under a state of emergency in place since a failed coup attempt last July.

 

They said a decision by the electoral board to accept unstamped voting ballots removed a major safeguard against voter fraud in the tightly contested referendum.

 

On Tuesday, Turkey's council of state, which handles complaints and appeals against state and public institutions, declined to hear an appeal by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).

 

The CHP said it would take its appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. Erdogan has said the referendum reflected the will of Turkish voters and the opposition and observer complaints are politically motivated.

 

(Reporting by Gulsen Solaker; Writing by Dominic Evans; Editing by Mark Trevelyan/Mark Heinrich)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-04-28

[Katipo]

Why would any sane person vote 'yes' to giving away their democratic freedoms?

[Credo]

1 hour ago, Katipo said:

Why would any sane person vote 'yes' to giving away their democratic freedoms?

Sometimes people are voting to take away other peoples' democratic freedoms.   They just don't realize that theirs may go as well.   

[lungnorm]

Was the result ever in doubt ? After all he has imprisoned all the opposition he could invent a reason to. Time for assasination plans.

[Srikcir]

8 hours ago, Katipo said:

Why would any sane person vote 'yes' to giving away their democratic freedoms?

16.8 million Thais did the same in their 2016 referendum. Seems typical in authoritarian societies.

[henry15]

He  got the mayority thanks to the yes votes from abroad, in holland, Belgihm and Germany  more than 70%  vote YES.   Therefore the huge propaganda a abraod by Erdogan. Theire wher huge political rallys abroad. Most Turcks have  dual nationality , even member in the different Europeqn parlements  have dual nationality,. Therefor you can ask yourself  where lays theire loyalty. The Turkisch version of the Troyan horse  is already inside the European walls