Military coup underway in Turkey

Stability or autocracy? Turkey divided over key referendum.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey is heading toward a historic referendum on a new political system that could change the course of its history — and it has the country divided right down the middle. For supporters, change will bring much-needed stability. Others fear it could lead Turkey down the path of an autocratic, one-man rule by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Voters will decide on Sunday whether to approve constitutional changes that would replace the parliamentary system with a presidential one, scrapping the office of the prime minister and handing over its powers to the president.

Erdogan, who has fronted the campaign for a "yes" vote, says the proposed "Turkish style" presidential system will banish weak governments, establish an efficient state and bring prosperity to the country.

A "yes" vote would allow a set of 18 constitutional reforms that grants the president the power to appoint government ministers and senior officials, appoint half of the members in the country's highest judicial body, declare states of emergency and issue decrees.

Critics argue that will allow Erdogan — who has been in power either as prime minister or president since 2003 — to rule at least until 2029 with few checks and balances in a system where the separation of powers will be less clear-cut.

"The 18 articles foresee a very loose separation of powers," said Ahmet Kasim Han, an associate professor of international relations at Kadir Has University in Istanbul. That "unduly invests the weight of the decisions and the power of the executive on the president," he said.

Polls suggest a neck-and-neck race for Sunday's vote. "It's going to be a very close call and both 'yes' and 'no' are equally probable as outcomes," Han said. The referendum comes amid troubled times for Turkey, which has been plagued by a string of bombings, renewed violence between the government forces and Kurdish rebels and a failed coup attempt in July that resulted in a state of emergency that remains in place.

The emergency powers have permitted a widespread government crackdown that has targeted the followers of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen — whom Turkey blames for the coup — and other government opponents. Some 100,000 people — including judges and teachers — have been dismissed, and more than 40,000 people, including journalists and opposition pro-Kurdish legislators, have been arrested. Hundreds of news outlets and non-governmental organizations have been shut down.

The country is also dealing with the war in neighboring Syria which led to an influx of some 3 million refugees. Turkey has sent troops into Syria to help opposition Syrian forces clear a border area from the threat posed by Islamic State militants.

Meanwhile, Turkey is drifting further apart from Europe, following Erdogan's recent outbursts slamming the governments in the Netherlands and Germany as "Nazis" over their restrictions on Turkish ministers' attempts to court Turkish expatriate votes.

For Erdogan, 63, a presidential system has been a long-time dream. A prime minister for 11 years since 2003, he was elected president in 2014 for a five-year term and took a far more active role in politics than his predecessors, ruling behind the scenes despite the current constitution that requires him to be neutral.

Erdogan argues that as Turkey's first president to be directly elected by the people — instead of the parliament — he has a wider mandate than previous presidents. If approved, the reforms would in effect legalize his de facto rule.

The amendments were approved by parliament in January, but fell short of the majority required to directly come into effect without a national vote. Erdogan remains popular in Turkey's conservative and religious heartlands, where he is seen as a strong leader who stands up against Europe, terror threats and coup-plotters. Many believe he has improved services and health care, and given a voice to pious Muslims who at times felt marginalized by more secular governments.

He has crisscrossed the country to hold mass rallies and led an often abrasive and divisive campaign, accusing his opponents of siding with "terrorists." In rally after rally, he has argued that the new system will end periods of unstable governments and coalitions, prevent coups similar to last summer's failed attempt, and stop the system of dual leadership between the prime and the president.

"If only we could have instituted these changes years ago," he said during a campaign speech this week. "We have paid dearly for these delays." The opposition has complained about an unfair campaign process, with Erdogan and the "yes" propaganda dominating air waves and billboards using state resources. The main opposition party has recorded more than 100 incidents of obstruction to their campaign efforts, including threats, beatings and arbitrary detentions.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which will be observing the referendum, noted in a report last week that the vote is taking place under the state of emergency under which "fundamental freedoms have been curtailed and thousands of citizens have been detained or dismissed, including civil servants, judges, journalists and opposition party members."

It also noted that supporters of the "no" campaign have faced "bans, police interventions, and violent scuffles at their events." If approved in the referendum, the reforms would come into effect with the next general elections slated for 2019.

If he doesn't win this time, won't Erdogan just invent another external enemy and have another referendum?

The mausoleum of Turkey's founding father Ataturk.

(1 of 20 pictures) Turkish military honour guards perform the hourly changing of the guard at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey in Ankara, Turkey. The legacy of the man whose surname means "father of Turks" was one of a modern, secular, western-leaning Turkey. But the personality cult that grew around him has very gradually been fading as current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in power since 2003 as alternately prime minister and president, has harked back to the glory days of the height of the Ottoman Empire to whip up patriotic sentiment.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — For generations, Turks have revered their nation's founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who carved out modern Turkey from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire in the wake of World War I, and his mausoleum in Ankara is a place of pilgrimage for many.

The reverence the military hero commanded has been unparalleled in this nation of nearly 80 million people, with his portrait adorning government offices, streets, banknotes and coins, and insulting his name officially deemed a crime. Every year on Nov. 10, the anniversary of his 1938 death, sirens sound across the country, and people stand to attention for a minute.

The legacy of the man whose surname means "father of Turks" was one of a modern, secular, western-leaning Turkey. But the personality cult that grew around him has very gradually been fading as current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in power since 2003 as alternately prime minister and president, has harked back to the glory days of the height of the Ottoman Empire to whip up patriotic sentiment.

But adoration for Ataturk is still far from dead. At his mausoleum, a sprawling complex built in the early 1950s in the Turkish capital, families, schoolchildren, elderly people and veiled Muslim women all come to pay homage to his memory.

A military honor guard stands watch at the complex, and the hourly changing of the guard is one of visitors' favorite sights. The complex includes a museum with two life-sized wax figures, an extensive collection of his personal effects, portraits, medals and artifacts from his numerous military campaigns.

As Turks head to the polls on April 16 for a referendum on whether to grant Erdogan greater powers, many worry Ataturk's legacy is being eroded. They fear their country is reverting to a more conservative nation with little tolerance for dissent, and accuse Erdogan of heading toward autocratic one-man rule. But Erdogan himself says Sunday's vote will instead ensure Turkey no longer has to face weak governments and a "yes" victory would ensure stable governments that would herald prosperity.  See link for photos.
https://www.mail.com/int/news/europe/5116142-ap-photos-mausoleum-turkeys-founding-father-atatur.html#.1258-stage-hero1-6

Campaigning for Turkey referendum hits final stretch.

ISTANBUL (AP) — Campaigning for Turkey's crucial referendum on whether to expand presidential powers has entered its final stretch, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressing flag-waving supporters in an Istanbul neighborhood to drum up support for his "yes" campaign.

Erdogan has long championed the idea of changing Turkey's system of government from parliamentary to presidential. He is calling on his countrymen to vote on Sunday to approve constitutional changes that would abolish the office of the prime minister, handing all executive power to the president. The change, he says, will bring much-needed stability to Turkey.

But critics argue Erdogan, in power as prime minister or president since 2003, is becoming increasingly autocratic and fear the changes will simply cement his hold on power in a system that will have few checks and balances.
.........................................
Turkey referendum: What are the main issues and process?

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey is holding a national referendum Sunday to approve or reject a package of constitutional reforms that would replace the country's parliamentary system with a presidential one. The referendum is seen by many as the ultimate test of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's popularity.

Here's a look at the electoral process and the issues at stake: THE VOTE More than 55 million people are eligible to cast votes in some 167,000 ballot boxes at polling stations across the country. Close to 3 million expatriate Turkish citizens in 57 countries were also eligible to vote between March 27 and April 9 at Turkish diplomatic missions.

The ballot paper is simply divided into a "yes" and a "no" section. No question is written on the ballot paper and it is assumed that the people know what they are voting for. Polls open at 7:00 a.m. (0400 GMT) and close at 4:00 p.m. (1300 GMT) Sunday in 32 eastern provinces, and open and close an hour later in the rest of the country.

Turkey has no official exit polls and media are barred from publishing or broadcasting election results until the High Election Board lifts the ban at 1800 GMT or earlier. More at link,

https://www.mail.com/int/news/europe/5118260-turkey-referendum-what-main-issues-process.html#.1258-stage-hero1-5

it is assumed that the people know what they are voting for

Not an assumption I would make, personally....

So, by tomorrow evening, we should know if Turkey is going to be ruled by Emperor Erdogan?

I cannot help but hazard a guess that the one and only Erdogan will be Ruler.....

If he doesn't win this time, he'll just order another referendum. And make sure the votes from the Kurdish regions get lost.

Yes or No? Final day of campaigning before tight Turkey vote.

ISTANBUL (AP) — In the last day before Turkey's crucial referendum on whether to expand the president's power, both "yes" and "no" campaigners addressed flag-waving supporters Saturday in Istanbul and Ankara.

At stake is the future of Turkey's political system, with supporters saying the constitutional changes will herald a period of stability and prosperity, and detractors warning the reforms could lead to an autocratic one-man rule by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Opinion polls indicate a tight race, and fierce campaigning took place Saturday right up to a 6 p.m. ban. Erdogan has long championed the idea of changing Turkey's system of government from parliamentary to presidential. He is calling on his countrymen to vote Sunday to approve 18 constitutional changes that would, among other things, abolish the office of the prime minister, handing all executive power to the president.

"The new constitution will bring stability and trust that is needed for our county to develop and grow," Erdogan told supporters Saturday in Istanbul's Tuzla district. He also appealed to voters of other parties to approve the changes so "Turkey can leap into the future."

"Is it a 'yes' for one nation? Is it a 'yes' for one flag? Is it a 'yes' for one homeland? Is it a 'yes' for one state? Yes, yes, yes!" he said. Erdogan said the proposed reforms could help counter a series of threats, including a failed military coup last year and a string of deadly bombings, some attributed to the Islamic State group. Fighting also resumed in 2015 between security forces and Kurdish rebels in the southeast of the country. Link.

https://www.mail.com/int/news/europe/5118308-yes-no-final-day-campaigning-tight-turkey-vote.html#.1258-stage-hero1-1

Polls close in Turkey's eastern provinces.

Voting in the more populous western provinces will end an hour later at 5 p.m. local time (14:00 GMT). If the "yes" vote wins, 18 constitutional amendments would transform Turkey's system of government from parliamentary to presidential, abolish the office of the prime minister and grant sweeping executive powers to the president.
.......................................
Turkey's state-run news agency says the death toll in a fight outside a polling station in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir has risen to three.

Anadolu news agency said a land feud may have been the reason for Sunday's deadly quarrel, while the private Dogan news agency reported it as caused by "differences in political opinion."

The fight took place outside a village school where voting is going on for Turkey's historic referendum on expanding the president's powers.

Anadolu said two people were detained and gendarmes took security precautions at the village.
................................................
Observers from the 57-nation Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe are monitoring the voting process in the Turkish capital as the country headed to polling stations in a historic referendum.

Tana de Zulueta, the head of the OSCE observation mission, said the group has been in the country since March 17 "to assess the campaign including the media environment, the legal framework, the conduct of the campaign for its conformity with international standards to which Turkey is party."

She said observers visited polling stations in 12 locations Sunday to complete its referendum assessment mission.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sharply criticized OSCE on Friday, saying, "Who are you? First know your place. You cannot meddle in what happens."

The group is expected to hold a news conference Monday on their preliminary findings and conclusions regarding the referendum process.
...............................................
Turkey's President Erdogan: a popular but polarizing figure

ISTANBUL (AP) — Few men can claim to have dominated politics in Turkey — or polarized his people — as much as Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the 63-year-old president who has urged his nation to approve reforms that will greatly expand his powers. Full report at link.
https://www.mail.com/int/news/europe/5119918-turkeys-president-erdogan-popular-polarizing-figur.html#.1258-stage-hero1-4
....................................
Turkish voters deciding on expanding presidential power

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turks were voting Sunday in a historic referendum on constitutional reforms that would greatly expand the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. If the "yes" vote prevails Sunday, the 18 constitutional changes will replace Turkey's parliamentary system of government with a presidential one, abolishing the office of the prime minister and granting sweeping executive powers to the president.
https://www.mail.com/int/news/world/5119884-turkish-voters-deciding-expanding-presidential-pow.htm

"Is it a 'yes' for one nation? Is it a 'yes' for one flag? Is it a 'yes' for one homeland? Is it a 'yes' for one state? Yes, yes, yes!" he said.

That is scarily familiar...

I think we knew it?

Europe Elects‏ @EuropeElects 14m14 minutes ago
More
Turkey, Istanbul, 99% counted

No: 51%
Yes: 49%

#TurkeyReferendum

---

JamesInTurkey.com‏Verified account
@jamesinturkey

Follow
More
Turkey's Big Three cities all voting No right now. Who would've predicted that at the beginning of the night? http://www.24liveblog.com/live/1384525

Oh sh*t. If there's one thing worse than an Islamic dictator, it's an Islamic dictator supported by only 50% of the population.

Start counting down to Turkish civil war.....

Well, at least the Turks in Britain have some sense....

JamesInTurkey.com‏Verified account
@jamesinturkey

Follow
More
The official results almost entirely in, but Turkey's referendum is far from over. The opposition is to file objections across the board.

Best of luck with that one.

Turks based in Greece vote No

Results have come in from Greece where the small ethnic Turkish Muslim minority has voted 76,75 % in favour of No, according to the country’s state news agency, reports Helena Smith.

At around 140,000 people the minority accounts for just over 1% of Greece’s total population and though Greek citizens has voting rights in Turkey where, to the consternation of Athens. it often looks for guidance. In recent months Greece has also received a surge in applications for political asylum from secular Turks strongly opposed to the Erdogan regime.

Sensible people; I suspect many of the Turks in the UK will be Turkish Cypriots, rather than mainland Turks?

bb1 wrote:Sensible people; I suspect many of the Turks in the UK will be Turkish Cypriots, rather than mainland Turks?

About 50/50 I understand. LL

Well, I guess Turkey can kiss its tourist industry goodbye - I can't see too many people fancying a nice family holiday in a country run by an islamofascist dictator.

Opposition to challenge votes on expanding Erdogan's powers.

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's main opposition party is preparing to contest the results of a referendum that gave a narrow victory to President Tayyip Erdogan's wishes to greatly expand the powers of his office.

The "yes" vote got 51.41 percent in Sunday's referendum, while the "no" vote got 48.59 percent, according state-run Anadolu Agency's results. Turkey's electoral board confirmed the "yes" victory. Oposition parties complained of a number of irregularities in the voting, including an electoral board decision to accept as valid ballots that did not bear the official stamp.

Legislator Utku Cakirozer told the AP that his Republican People's Party would on Monday file objections to results at local electoral board branches, before taking their case to the Supreme Electoral Board.

Cakiozer said: "At the moment this is a dubious vote."
..........................................
EU leaders urge Ankara to move slowly post-vote

ISTANBUL (AP) — The European Union's top officials have responded cautiously to the outcome of Turkey's constitutional referendum and are calling on the government to seek a broad consensus as changes to the country's system of government are implemented.

EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said in a joint statement late Sunday that they "take note of the reported results" indicating the referendum expanding the presidency's powers was approved.

They noted that they are awaiting a report from international election observers on the vote and alleged irregularities. The three say the constitutional amendments and their enactment "will be assessed in light of Turkey's obligations as a European Union candidate country and as a member of the Council of Europe."

The EU leaders said: "In view of the close referendum result and the far-reaching implications of the constitutional amendments, we also call on the Turkish authorities to seek the broadest possible national consensus in their implementation."

Here's my prediction.

Erdogan will pay no attention to the opposition, except perhaps to jail them. He will pay even less attention to Juncker and co. It's too late.

Opposition calls for cancellation of referendum

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party has called on the country's electoral board to cancel Sunday's referendum that approved a proposal to grant sweeping powers to the nation's president.

Bulent Tezcan, deputy chairman of the party known by its Turkish acronym CHP, cited irregularities in the conduct of the vote. He said there was "only one way to end the discussions about the vote's legitimacy and to put the people at ease, and that is for the Supreme Electoral Board to cancel the vote."

The board's unprecedented decision to accept as valid ballots that didn't bear the official stamp has led to outrage among opposition parties. Tezcan said it was not possible for authorities to determine how many ballot papers may have been irregularly cast.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-04-17/eu-leaders-refuse-congratulate-erdogan-await-oecd-report-referndum-irregularities

Leaders of member states of the European Union have been cautious about the results of the referendum in Turkey. As KeepTalkingGreece.com reports, no EU leader sent the traditional congratulations message to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his victory so far. They are reportedly awaiting for the independent OECD report on alleged voting irregularities, especially after Turkish opposition parties shouted foul play and fraud.

All pointless. An islamofascist dictator is now ruling Turkey like an absolute monarch - or absolute sultan. I doubt if he has ever had the slightest bit of respect for Merkel or the other EU hand-wringers, he's just played their game while it suited him.

Now, it doesn't.

Might be a good idea to kick Turkey out of NATO, ASAP, though.

I've been trying to remember who Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his wife Emine remind me of and then it clicked - Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife Elena. History repeating itself? And if so, will it end the same? What goes around, comes around. LL