Turkish presidential election

After Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan claimed victory in a referendum that could give him sleeping powers, the opposition in Turkey said they are to call for a recount of over 35% of the votes over doubts of violations that took place, BNR reported.

Ballots and envelopes provided to voters for the April 16 constitutional referendum were produced by the High Electoral Board (YSK) and are valid, the head of the board claimed on April 17.

The tight win in the April 16 constitutional amendment referendum will leave the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) with much to ponder. The party lost its dominance in Turkey's largest cities Istanbul and Ankara, falling far behind the sum total of 60.4 percent that it and its referendum ally the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) achieved in the most recent general election on Nov.

The much discussed referendum has become history. As expected, the "yes" vote aimed at ushering Turkey into a super-presidential system with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan emerged victorious by a razor-thin majority.

President Tayyip Erdoğan announced his narrow win for the constitutional shift from a parliamentary to an executive system as a result of the April 16 referendum, representing a radical change in Turkey's administrative regime.

The main opposition party leader accused the election watchdog of violating laws and therefore making the referendum equivocal while stressing that almost half of the Turkish people was against the charter amendments even though constitutions should reflect a national consensus.

Voting has ended and the count begun in Turkey's landmark referendum to decide whether President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan should be granted sweeping new powers, BBC reported.

Mr Erdoğan's supporters say replacing the parliamentary system with an executive presidency would modernise the country but opponents fear it could lead to greater authoritarianism.

The referendum on April 16 will mark another turning point or, rather, crossroads in Turkey's political history.

Turkey will go to polls this Sunday to vote on a package of constitutional amendments that introduces a major shift to an executive presidential system from the current parliamentary system. The weeks-long campaign has visibly intensified as polling day approaches, with many saying it is still a close race between the "Yes" and "No" camps.   

With around three weeks to go to the referendum on shifting Turkey to a presidential system, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has urged ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) officials to intensify their campaigning in big cities, particularly Istanbul, as polls remain tight.