Turkish oppn calls for annulment of referendum vote

TURKEY’S MAIN opposition party demanded on Monday that a referendum granting President Tayyip Erdogan sweeping new powers be nullified after a narrow “Yes” vote that exposed bitter divisions and drew concern from European Union leaders.

Erdogan’s supporters took to the streets to cheer, while opponents stayed indoors banging pots and pans in protest over the vote to bring the biggest overhaul in Turkish politics since the founding of the modern republic, abolishing the prime minister’s post and concentrating power in the presidency.

Unofficial results showed a narrow victory with 51.4 per cent of votes cast in favour. Official results are due in 12 days.

Erdogan, a populist with a background in once-banned Islamist parties, has ruled since 2003 with no real rival, while his country emerged as one of the fastest-growing industrial powers in both Europe and the Middle East.

Critics accuse him of steering Turkey towards one-man rule and exacerbating divisions that could increase instability. The two largest opposition parties both challenged Sunday’s referendum, saying it was deeply flawed.

The pro-kurdish opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party said it presented complaints about unstamped ballots affecting 3 million voters, more than twice the margin of Erdogan’s victory.

Erdogan rejects criticism of vote

Erdogan told international election observers to “know their place” after they criticised the referendum, and denounced their “crusader mentality”. He said it was not so important to Turkey if the EU broke off accession talks. Implementing the reforms would now begin, he said.

European monitors said the vote did not live up to international standards.

Erdogan said Turkey did not “see, hear or acknowledge” reports by the OSCE observer mission and said some countries had been more opposed to the referendum than even Turkey’s own opposition. REUTERS