Turks question referendum results as Erdogan declares victory

Record ID: 645368

  • Title: Turks question referendum results as Erdogan declares victory
  • Date: 17th April 2017
  • Summary: PEDESTRIANS WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) ANKARA RESIDENT, EBRU TAVUKCU, SAYING: "This almost feels like saying farewell to the republic system. Akit newspaper (a conservative pro-government newspaper) had a headline which also angered us. I believe our votes are stolen. I think the Electoral Board's decision to count unstamped yes votes as valid upon AK Party's request is a big scandal. We all remained silent in the face of this. I particularly call for (Kemal) Kilicdaroglu (main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader) to resign." PEDESTRIANS WALKING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) ANKARA RESIDENT, TUGBA KART, SAYING: "I don't know what the new system will bring but I am happy because the person I support has become an executive president. Therefore I am happy. I hope the new system will be good. I really don't know what it will bring." PEDESTRIANS WALKING
  • Embargoed: 1st May 2017 08:12
  • Keywords: Turkey referendum results government President Tayyip Erdogan newspapers
  • Location: ISTANBUL AND ANKARA, TURKEY
  • City: ISTANBUL AND ANKARA, TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA0036CSC3EV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Some Turkish residents questioned the legitimacy of the referendum results on Monday (April 17), a day after President Tayyip Erdogan declared victory in gaining new powers.
    The referendum victory marks the first step in replacing Turkey's parliamentary system with an all-powerful presidency and abolishing the office of prime minister.
    Erdogan said 25 million people had supported the proposal, giving the "Yes" camp 51.5 percent of the vote. But opponents said the vote was marred by irregularities and they would challenge its result.
    The head of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Kemal Kilicdaroglu, said the legitimacy of the referendum was open to question.
    The party said it would 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.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register