The Yes Vote in Turkey Referendum was about 51% as compared to 48% for the No Vote
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan narrowly won a historic referendum for the constitutional amendment, according to the unofficial results.
President Tayyip Erdogan declared victory in a referendum that will tighten his grip on sweeping powers in the biggest overhaul of modern Turkish politics.
As of now, unofficial results showed ‘Yes’ with 51.34 percent while ‘No’ had 48.66 percent, reports state news agency Anadolu.
Erdogan claimed 25 million people had favored to the presidential proposal, which will replace Turkey´s parliamentary system with an all-powerful presidency.
After initial reports, thousands of flag-waving supporters rallied in Ankara and Istanbul in celebration.
Erdogan told the media, referring to the military coups which marred Turkish politics for decades “For the first time in the history of the Republic, we are changing our ruling system through civil politics”.
Under the changes, the president will appoint the cabinet and an undefined number of vice-presidents, and be able to select and remove senior civil servants without parliamentary approval. The constitutional amendment will limit or eliminate prime minister’s power.
Meanwhile, opposition parties said the vote was rejected by irregularities and they would challenge its result.
Head of the main opposition Republican People´s Party (CHP), Kemal Kilicdaroglu, said “We demand a recount of up to 60 percent of the votes after Turkey´s High Electoral Board (YSK) announced it would count ballots which had not been stamped by its officials as valid unless they could be proved fraudulent”.
Pakistan’s Government has extended felicitations to the Government and people of Turkey on the initial results of the referendum for the constitutional amendment.
The Pakistan President Mamnoom Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in their separate messages to the Turkish leaders have congratulated Turkey over this important decision.
In these congratulation messages, Pakistani leadership has reaffirmed the strong desire of the people of Pakistan for further strengthening the historic bonds of friendship between the two countries and their peoples through mutually beneficial cooperation and exchanges.