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LIVE: Turkey votes on whether to expand president's powers

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LIVE: Turkey votes on whether to expand president's powers
MEE reports on the latest updates from Turkey's vote on an executive presidential system
  •  Turkey is voting on an 18-article constitutional amendments package which would grant the president vast executive powers 
  • A simple 50 percent plus 1 vote of all votes cast is required to change the existing parliamentary system to an executive presidency
  • More than 55 million people out of the country's nearly 80 million population are eligible to vote
  • A total of 167,601 polling stations have been set up across the country
  • Voting abroad was completed last week, with 1.3 million people voting

Live Updates

7 years ago

A bed-ridden hospital patient brought by an ambulance on Sunday to a polling booth in Istanbul's Bakirkoy district to cast his vote.

 
Hospital patient on his way to vote in Istanbul (Suraj Sharma/MEE)

7 years ago

"What is important is that our citizens who go to the polls today look at each other with respect and love regardless of their thoughts," said former Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Sunday."

'Parliament is the shield and spine of democracy'

- Former prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu

Whatever the result in the evening is, it will be representative of the national will," added Davutoglu who was forced out of office in May 2016 over disagreements with president Erdogan over the future of the country. 

Former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara on 5 May 2016 (AFP)

Leading up to the referendum, Davutolug said in January this year that was "a requisite that the legislature and executive proceed on solid ground built around the principles of separation of powers."

"Parliament is the shield and spine of democracy because it is an authority that is very difficult to manipulate since it encompasses all of society.”
7 years ago

Turkish journalist Ali Bayramoglu, a columnist and government critic was attacked by 'Yes' voters as he cast his vote at a school in Gayrettepe, Istanbul, reported Turkish media on Sunday.

Bayramoglu, a former columnist for a pro-AKP newspaper, promoted 'No' campaign in the weeks leading up to the referendum.

7 years ago

"Everyone has a choice, said former Turkish president Abdullah Gul on Sunday. "Just like the rest of the nation, we too, made our choice behind those screens."

'There shouldn’t be a Turkish-style presidency'

- Former Turkish president Abdullah Gul

"They [choices] will all be collceted together and that will be the nation's voice," added Gul who after completing one term as president in 2014, said he was stepping away from active politics.

Turkey's former President Abdullah Gul at The Tbilisi Summit 2014 on 6 May (AFP)

Talking about the constitutional amendments in 2015, Gul said: "My thoughts on this topic are already known. These topics need to be debated knowledgeably."

"The type of presidency is important. We have experienced a Turkish-style parliamentary system and seen its problems. There shouldn’t be a Turkish-style presidency."
7 years ago

More than 55.3 million Turks are eligible to vote on sweeping changes to the president's role.

Polling stations opened in the east of the country at 0400 GMT, while voting in Istanbul, Ankara and other cities got under way an hour later.

A man votes at a school in Istanbul's Uskudar district on 16 April (Suraj Sharma/MEE)

The last polls close at 1500 GMT with first results expected shortly after.

A woman accompanied by her young daughter head to the screened off area to make her choice in Istanbul's Uskudar district (Suraj Sharma/MEE)

7 years ago

More than 55.3 million Turks are eligible to vote on sweeping changes to the president's role.

Polling stations opened in the east of the country at 0400 GMT, while voting in Istanbul, Ankara and other cities got under way an hour later.

People arrive to vote in the constitutional referendum on expanding the powers of the Turkish president at a polling station in Ankara on 16 April (AFP)
The last polls close at 1500 GMT with first results expected shortly after.

People wait their turn to cast their vote at a school in Istanbul's Bakirkoy district (Suraj Sharma/MEE)

7 years ago

“This is an important turning point in the lives of our nation," said nationalist movement party leader (MHP) Devlet Bahceli ahead casting his vote in Ankara on Sunday.

'This is an important turning point in the lives of our nation'

- MHP leader Devlet Bahceli

Although deeply divided over the constitutional amendments, the MHP's official line has backed the changes proposed by the ruling party.
 
Bahceli said he hoped the vote would be a "major turning point in the life of our people and in Turkey."

Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party's leader (MHP) Devlet Bahceli casts his vote in the constitutional referendum on expanding the powers of the Turkish president at a polling station in Ankara on 16 April (AFP)

7 years ago

“We ran a beautiful campaign and embraced all our citizens. We are voting on Turkey’s destiny, ” said leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu ahead of the referendum. 

'We are voting on Turkey’s destiny'

- CHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu

"God willing, the result will be auspicious and we will all have the chance to determine Turkey's fundamental problems," he added.

The CHP is Turkey's main opposition party and opposes Erdogan's proposed changes to the constitution.

Leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kilicdaroglu greets supporters outside a polling station where he voted in the constitutional referendum in Ankara on 16 April (AFP)
Kilicdaroglu spoke against what he deemed unfair practices by the government during the campaigns leading up to the vote. 

"This is definitely not going to be a fair referendum. We know that the pro-Erdogan media will have a broadcasting policy that completes ignores the opposition,"  Kilicdaroglu said in February.

"It will be presented as if we are running against the state."

 
7 years ago

“The decision reached by our nation will be the most beautiful decision,” said Turkish prime minister Binali Yildrim ahead of casting his vote.

Under the new constitution, the president would have strengthened executive powers to directly appoint top public officials including ministers. 

'The decision reached by our nation will be the most beautiful decision'

- PM Binali Yildirim

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

Turkish Prime Minister and head of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Binali Yildirim speaks in Ankara, on 14 April (AFP)
7 years ago

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday said the tightly-contested referendum on expanding the powers of the head of state was a vote for the future of Turkey.

"We carried out some referendums (in the past) but this referendum is a choice of change and transformation for a new administrative system in the Turkish Republic," he told reporters after casting his vote in an Istanbul school.

'This evening our people will walk to the future by making the expected choice' 

- President Erdogan 

"God willing, this evening our people will walk to the future by making the expected choice."

Erdogan cast his vote in Uskudar on the Asian side of Istanbul, with his wife Emine, his grandchildren, elder daughter Esra and son-in-law Berat Albayrak, the energy minister.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and wife Emine casting their votes in Uskudar on 16 April (AFP)