AK Party

Reflections on the June 24th Turkish Elections
 

21st Century Wire says…
As if it’s not discouraging news with allegations of President Erdogan’s recent referendum victory mired in fraud, as alleged by the opposition parties, it’s worrying to see the incumbent allied with a long established group that are known in Turkey for serious violence, attempted murder, drug smuggling, and most notably one of their members who tried to assassinate Pope John Paul II in 1981.

21st Century Wire says…
With a 51.5% vote and turnout of 25 million voters, President Erdogan claimed victory in Sunday’s referendum. With final results due to be released up to 12 days after Sunday’s referendum, the main opposition Republican Peoples’ Party (CHP) claim that unstamped ballots were given to voters and the recent result must be annulled as a result.

With almost all ballots counted, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears to have won the referendum on vastly expanded Presidential, some would say, tyrannic powers.
In the last few hours of counting, the vote has narrowed to 51.41% (with over 99% of votes counted) in favour of the reforms.
Erdogan has now declared victory and congratulated his supporters.

21st Century Wire says…
President Tayyip Erdogan could be in office until 2029 if voters in today’s Turkish referendum give him the majority. Poll indications show a narrow lead but their reliability is questionable.