Turkey referendum

[Isis]

This is fucking insane and will definitely put more strain on Turkey-EU relations...

What's your thoughts?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39612562

Voting is under way in Turkey in a landmark referendum that will determine whether President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be granted sweeping new powers.

Mr Erdogan is seeking to replace Turkey's parliamentary system with an executive presidency.

Supporters say the move would streamline and modernise the country, but opponents fear it could lead to greater authoritarianism.

A "yes" vote could also see Mr Erdogan remain in office until 2029.

On Saturday, Turkish politicians made their final appeals to voters preparing to cast their ballots on one of the most sweeping programmes of constitutional change since Turkey became a republic almost a century ago.

Some 55 million people are eligible to vote across 167,000 polling stations, with the results expected to be announced late on Sunday evening.

If the referendum vote falls in Mr Erdogan's favour, it would give him vastly enhanced powers to appoint cabinet ministers, issue decrees, choose senior judges and dissolve parliament.

Mr Erdogan said the changes were needed to address the security challenges faced by Turkey, and to avoid the fragile coalition governments of the past.

[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]

Well, major news networks are saying that Erdogan has more or less won already. I doubt it was a fair referendum.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...ial-powers

[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]

Well, major news networks are saying that Erdogan has more or less won already. I doubt it was a fair referendum.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...ial-powers

Well considering he's locked up opposition members . Locked up journalist . and gone after media critical of his party . All before calling this "referendum"(establishment of a dictatorship)

If he wins his next move will likely be

1. Disband or weaken parliament till it's just a puppet . This will ensure that no future political rivals will rise from that quarter

2. Purge the media using dog whistle terms "security" or" concerns about"