Turkey referendum

[Isis]

[Thumpalumpacus]

Twelve years is too long to go without another appeal to the voting public. Seems to be a power grab, to me.

[Isis]

Twelve years is too long to go without another appeal to the voting public. Seems to be a power grab, to me.

It most definitely is.

Turkey has been edging closer to authoritarianism ever since the attempted coup. I don't mean to sound sensationalist but with the recent talk of bringing back the death penalty and with the government clamping down dissidents, we could eventually see political opponents and activists executed. It may also contribute to the further rise of the far-right in Europe, as Erdogan has said he will consider reviewing the refugee deal after the referendum.

Either way, if the nationalists win this, you can kiss democracy and Turkey's hopes of joining the EU goodbye. I am wondering how the Trump administration will respond as well.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Erdogan is making the typical strongman argument: 'I need increased powers to protect the State'. I imagine he'll get them - I'm not all that sanguine about the validity of 'voting' in Turkey.

Boru

[Isis]

[Alex K]

There have been e.g. reports where places had more ballots than registered voters. If those aren't all made up, I think they manipulated it heavily. That being said, in the current political climate, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that enough people really voted that way. Turkey is very divided politically. They should just split up the country and let all the sane people live in a democracy on this side of the bosporus, and have their fascist dictatorship on the other.

[Isis]

There have been e.g. reports where places had more ballots than registered voters. If those aren't all made up, I think they manipulated it heavily. That being said, in the current political climate, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that enough people really voted that way. Turkey is very divided politically. They should just split up the country and let all the sane people live in a democracy on this side of the bosporus, and have their fascist dictatorship on the other.

I heard something about a decision to accept blank ballots. I have also been reading about the increased harassment of activists by pro-government supporters leading up to the referendum. It certainly wasn't a fair referendum by any stretch of the imagination. Germany could always take the democracy supporters in...

[Alex K]

There have been e.g. reports where places had more ballots than registered voters. If those aren't all made up, I think they manipulated it heavily. That being said, in the current political climate, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that enough people really voted that way. Turkey is very divided politically. They should just split up the country and let all the sane people live in a democracy on this side of the bosporus, and have their fascist dictatorship on the other.

I heard something about a decision to accept blank ballots. I have also been reading about the increased harassment of activists by pro-government supporters leading up to the referendum. It certainly wasn't a fair referendum by any stretch of the imagination. Germany could always take the democracy supporters in.

Someone on my Twitter suggested that all the Yes voters in Germany should trade places with the No voters in Turkey, and everybody would win!

[Isis]

Excellent idea.

[Amarok]