Erdogan must heal divided nation

Compromises needed for reconciliation: analysts

ANKARA, April 17, (AFP): Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan must heal a divided country after narrowly winning a contested referendum, but it is unclear whether he is interested in forging the compromises needed for reconciliation, analysts say.

After months of campaigning, with the ‘Yes’ side dominating the airwaves and posters on the streets, 51.41 percent of the electorate voted for an executive presidency, expanding Erdogan’s powers.

But some 48.59 percent on Sunday voted against, according to nearly-complete results from election authorities.

The ‘No’ was in front in 33 of Turkey’s 81 provinces, notably in major cities.

The campaign polarised the country. Erdogan railed against enemies abroad and traitors at home with his usual combative style, even accusing European countries of “Nazi practices” last month during the crisis in relations with the European Union. Comparisons Videos shared online by pro-government journalists and social media users made comparisons between Kurdish separatists and former farright nationalist party members voting for ‘No’, suggesting “terrorists” were against constitutional changes.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said at the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) headquarters on Sunday night said “no one’s heart should be broken” after the ‘Yes’ won.

“There are no losers in this referendum, the winner is Turkey, the winner is the dear people,” Yildirim told supporters.

But Erdogan ignored warnings from the EU over bringing back the death penalty and repeated he would approve any bill for its return and even could hold a referendum on the issue if necessary.

He urged “other countries and institutions to show respect to the decision of the nation”, and did not show a softening in his rhetoric against the West.

Meanwhile, two main opposition parties, the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) said they would challenge the result, alleging major violations.

controversial constitutional changes granting him greater powers.

Erdogan won a narrow victory, with 51.41 percent in favour and 48.59 percent against. The opposition alleges the vote

Analysts agreed even with such a “razor-thin” mandate and opposition challenges, Erdogan would defiantly continue his style of politics.

“I don’t think Erdogan will change the robust and muscular approach to politics that he has adopted so far,” said Fadi Hakura of the British thinktank Chatham House.

“If anything, I suspect he will double down on his very hardline and tough and uncompromising style of politics.”

Aykan Erdemir, a former Turkish main opposition party lawmaker, said Erdogan would probably conclude that he should “entrench” and “strengthen his one-man rule machine”.

But Erdemir, a senior fellow at Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted that Erdogan was still unable to muster more than 51 percent of the vote, despite the advantages of the ‘Yes’ campaign plus the imprisonment of high-profile ‘No’ campaigners.

“He has to find new mechanisms” to consolidate his rule, Erdemir added.

There will now also be intense attention over whether Erdogan moves to resume the peace process with Kurdish militants or works to try to simply destroy the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Pro-government Hurriyet daily columnist Abdulkadir Selvi wrote on Monday Turkish leaders were trying to “defuse the tensions” with their messages.

Significant

In the most significant blow to his authority of the referendum, Erdogan lost the support of the country’s biggest cities: Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir.

While the Aegean city of Izmir has often opted for the CHP, Erdogan has always seen Istanbul as his territory after serving as mayor in the mid1990s.

“I would classify this as at best a Pyrrhic victory for him,” Hakura told AFP, adding Erdogan “lost the base of his support”.

“Beyond the political polarisation, what we are seeing is an economic polarisation,” Erdemir agreed.

“The AKP has been associated with economic dynamism, strong export

was stained by violations.

The French President Francois Hollande said it “took note” of the figures and the “disputes” surrounding them, saying they showed “that Turkish society is divided growth. but now, all of those actors that are key to Turkey’s economic performance are sceptical about a centralised presidential system.”

The tight result is likely to raise questions for investors, whom the government has previously said were awaiting the result before putting funds back into to Turkey.

“The referendum result raises at least as many questions for investors as it provides answers,” Neil Shearing, chief emerging markets economist at of Capital Economics, said in a note to clients.

He said questions remained for investors over Erdogan’s behaviour and whether the result pushes Erdogan towards more conciliatory policy positions, or whether it “accelerates the slide towards autocracy”.

Critics have long denounced the move as part of a grab by Erdogan for one-man rule, but supporters say it simply puts Turkey in line with France and the United States and is needed for efficient government.

Erdogan hailed a “historic decision” after unofficial results showed a narrow 51-49 win for the ‘Yes’ camp but the opposition immediately vowed to challenge the outcome, alleging violations.

He has denounced as “lies” opposition claims that parliament would be neutralised and the judiciary would come under his political authority after the changes.

What will change in the new 18-article constitution for the nation of 79 million people, which will replace the current document adopted in 1982 after the 1980 military coup? Strengthened The president would have strengthened executive powers to appoint top public officials including ministers directly.

The president would also be able to assign one or several vice presidents. The office and position of prime minister, currently held by Binali Yildirim, would be scrapped.

There would be a shake-up in the judiciary, which Erdogan has accused of being influenced by supporters of his ally-turned-foe, the US-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen.

over the proposed deep reforms.”

In recent months, Erdogan has suggested he would back moves to resume capital punishment if the idea was approved by parliament, indicating that a bill on the matter would be tabled after the referendum.

And on Sunday, he said that if it were to be rejected by the opposition, he could put the matter to another referendum. (AFP)

US happy of Hijazi’s release:

An Egyptian court on Sunday acquitted Aya Hijazi, a dual US-Egyptian citizen who has been held in detention for nearly three years over accusations related to a nongovernmental organization she founded to aid street children.

Authorities arrested Hijazi, her husband and six others in May 2014 on charges of abusing children that were widely dismissed as bogus by human rights groups and senior US officials, who called for her release.

The arrests came as part of a wider clampdown on civil society especially following the military overthrow of an elected Islamist president in 2013. Prosecutors provided little if any evidence to support the allegations.

US Rep Don Beyer of Virginia voiced his joy and relief for Hijazi’s release in a statement.

“This wonderful news was a long time coming,” he said. (AP)