Turkish opposition calls for referendum vote annulment after Erdogan victory

Record ID: 645398

  • Title: Turkish opposition calls for referendum vote annulment after Erdogan victory
  • Date: 17th April 2017
  • Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (APRIL 17, 2017) (REUTERS) DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF PEOPLE'S REPUBLICAN PARTY (CHP), BULENT TEZCAN, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE SIGN ON PODIUM READING "CHP" (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF PEOPLE'S REPUBLICAN PARTY (CHP), BULENT TEZCAN, SAYING: "The only decision that will end the debate about the legitimacy (of the vote) and ease the people's legal concerns is the annulment of this referendum by the High Electoral Board.” CAMERAS AND CREW FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF PEOPLE'S REPUBLICAN PARTY (CHP), BULENT TEZCAN, SAYING: "If they didn't take this decision (to count unstamped votes), those unstamped ballot boxes would have been separated and the number of these votes in the reports would have been written with a note saying they were unstamped. These ballot papers would have been separately packed and reserved. How many unstamped ballot papers we have in the current votes is unknown." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS VARIOUS OF PRO-KURDISH PEOPLES' DEMOCRATIC PARTY (HDP) SPOKESMAN OSMAN BAYDEMIR WALKING TO PODIUM BAYDEMIR TALKING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) PRO-KURDISH PEOPLES' DEMOCRATIC PARTY (HDP) SPOKESMAN, OSMAN BAYDEMIR, SAYING: "In one place you have a population of 24 million, in another 25 million. A difference of 600,000 votes changed the destiny of the election. However, the objections we have made so far, and unstamped ballot papers and envelopes that are considered by High Electoral Board (as valid) amounts to 3 millions of voters on their own." CAMERAMEN FILMING NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 1st May 2017 13:40
  • Keywords: Turkey referendum Erdogan opposition polls High Electoral Board CHP MHP
  • Location: ANKARA, TURKEY
  • City: ANKARA, TURKEY
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016CSEGQV
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Turkey's main opposition party demanded on Monday (April 17) 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.
    Bulent Tezcan, deputy chairman of the People's Republican Party (CHP), said the High Electoral Board's decision to accept unstamped ballots was a potential irregularity and called for the annulment of the referendum that took place on Sunday (April 16).
    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.
    Unofficial results showed a narrow victory with 51.4 percent of votes cast in favour. Official results are due in 12 days.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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