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posted by on Wednesday April 19 2017, @10:13AM   Printer-friendly
from the another-day-another-populist-strongman dept.

Turkish President May Receive Increased Power

The Associated Press via CBC reports on preliminary results of a referendum held in Turkey on whether the powers of the president should be increased:

With 99 per cent of the ballots counted, the "yes" vote stood at 51.37 per cent, while the "no" vote was 48.63 per cent, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency. The head of Turkey's electoral board confirmed the "yes" victory and said final results will be declared in 11-12 days.

BBC News quotes the leader of an opposing party:

The main opposition, the Republican People's Party (CHP), has called for a recount.

Deputy leader Bulent Tezcan denounced "violations" in the electoral process. "We will pursue a legal battle. If the irregularities are not fixed, there will be a serious legitimacy discussion," he said.

additional coverage:

Turkish Electorate Appears to Choose Dictatorship; Opposition Cries Foul

Common Dreams reports Erdoğan Claims Ultimate Power in Turkey After Nearly Split Vote.

As one opponent of the referendum noted: "Threats, oppression, imprisonment, censorship, defamation--and yet half of the people of Turkey voted" against.

In a very close--and closely watched--referendum vote, Turks on [April 16] handed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan what many say is authoritarian rule.

With more than 99 percent of ballots counted, Erdoğan claimed a win with 51.36 percent voting in favor of the referendum and 48.64 voting against.

However, the Guardian reported,

disparities persisted into Sunday evening, with the opposition saying not all ballots had been counted and they would contest a third of the votes that had been cast. [Sadi Guven, the head of Turkey's high electoral board, or YSK] said the YSK had decided to consider unstamped ballots as valid unless they were proved to be fraudulent after a high number of complaints--including one from the ruling AK Party--that its officials had failed to stamp some ballot papers.

The No campaign said the YSK's last-minute decision raised questions about the validity of the vote.

TheFederalistPapers.org reports Turkey Votes To Turn Itself Into An Islamic Dictatorship.

Turkey's new dictator, President Recip Tayyip Erdoğan claimed victory in Sunday's vote on whether he should essentially take almost complete control over the country.

The opposition has said they would contest the election, citing rampant voter fraud, but the election is no less stunning.

Turkey is a member of NATO and a crucial ally (sometimes) in the fight against terrorism.

[...] If the results are upheld, it gives Turkey's government--with Erdoğan at the helm--widespread authority to scrap the centuries-old parliamentary system, replacing it with a presidential model. It would concentrate massive power in the hands of the president who has recently jailed opponents and cracked down on dissent.

Erdoğan will be able to appoint senior judges, declare a state of emergency, dissolve parliament, and in some cases issue new laws be [decreed].

It will also theoretically allow Erdoğan, who has dominated Turkish politics as president and prime minister since 2003, to stay in office until 2029.


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  • (Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday April 19 2017, @03:55PM

    by Phoenix666 (552) on Wednesday April 19 2017, @03:55PM (#496375) Journal

    The result makes me sad. My wife and I spent our honeymoon in Turkey and went a couple other times besides. We love it. The people are the kindest and gentlest by far that I have ever encountered. Their way of life and history are the definition of cosmopolitan. Through every level, across every dimension, their culture is complex, urbane, and deep. As a visitor there are a thousand things to love from Hittite ruins to Sufi mysticism to Ottoman cuisine to early Christian history; whatever you're into, they have it, and have had it, and have elaborated it, for several thousand years. If you've ever been, you really can't help but gush about the place.

    I had wanted to take my kids there when they got old enough, but now that the place has slid into dictatorship they may never get the chance. Hoşçakal, Turkey, and teşekkür ederim.

    --
    Washington DC delenda est.
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