Turkish referendum: ‘Yes’ leads with 54.6% after three quarters of ballots are counted

Votes in support of constitutional changes to hand Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan sweeping new powers stood at 54.6% after three quarters of the ballots in Sunday’s referendum had been counted, state news agency Anadolu said. A “Yes” vote would replace Turkey’s parliamentary democracy with an all-powerful presidency and may see Erdogan in office until at least 2029, in the most radical change to the country’s political system in its modern history.

The result could still change as more ballot boxes are counted across the hugely diverse country following the close of polls at 0730 IST. For the changes to be implemented the ‘Yes’ camp needs to win 50% plus one vote.

More than 55.3 million Turks were eligible to cast ballots on sweeping changes to the president’s role which, if approved, would grant Erdogan more power than any leader since modern Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and his successor Ismet Inonu.

Voting in Istanbul along with his family, Erdogan predicted that “our people would walk to the future” by making the right choice.

After a stamina-busting campaign that saw insults flung in both directions, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said: “Whatever choice comes out on top, our nation will make the most …read more