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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: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 20 2017, @01:18AM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 20 2017, @01:18AM (#496637)

    Erdogan the new Hitler?

    Got the army, the ideology, censorship, persecution, mass arrests, dictator friendships etc
    Neighbors that can work as antagonists.

    And that prevailing ideology that demands the virtue that anyone of the wrong faith shall be enslaved or killed is in place to. Seems so familiar.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 20 2017, @05:56AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 20 2017, @05:56AM (#496712)

    And note how cleverly, before all this, Turkey got access and familiarity with the inner workings of the EU and NATO...