Parties slam CHP's calls for people to take to streets
Political parties reacted to calls from different circles, including the Republican People's Party (CHP), for citizens to take to the streets against the outcome of the April 16 referendum.
Speaking in Parliament, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) group deputy chairman, Erkan Akçay, said that no one should make attempts to provoke the people.
"Nobody should start dreaming that they can polarize [the people]," Akçay said, adding that nobody should ask people to pour out onto the streets for their political gains.
Doğu Perinçek, a prominent Turkish politician and leader of the Patriotic Party (VP) also criticized the CHP for its calls.
"The CHP administration should immediately end incitements that lay the foundations for the PKK's street appeals," Perinçek asserted.
He also called on the CHP to stop collaborating with the pro-PKK Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).
During Sunday night's count, the Turkish Supreme Election Board (YSK) suddenly announced that unverified votes, which had not been authenticated as genuine by election officials, would be allowed. This led to a protest by the main opposition CHP, which said it would challenge the result, complaining about other violations that occurred during the referendum.
The CHP's vehement opposition to the referendum results led to public protests in major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said he respected the nation's will but the decision to allow the unsealed ballots overshadowed the results.
"The rule of a match cannot be changed while the match is being played, this is a universal rule," Kılıçdaroğlu said.
Earlier, YSK head Sadi Güven said a "unanimous decision" had been made before transferring the unverified votes to the system. "Before counting, ballots, the envelopes and voters' numbers are cross checked," he said speaking at the YSK office in Ankara. He added that unsealed voting envelopes have been included in past elections.
Meanwhile, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli commented on the recent developments via his official Twitter account.
Stressing that the YSK has the final decision, Bahçeli said, "They called the April 16 a referendum without a stamp. They said they do not recognize it. They discussed its legitimacy. However, the YSK made the final decision and closed this matter."
According to unofficial results, the "yes" campaign won with 51.41 percent of the vote, with the "no" camp garnering the remaining 48.59 percent and overall the voter turnout was at 85.46 percent. The official results are expected to be revealed next week.
Speaking in Parliament, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) group deputy chairman, Erkan Akçay, said that no one should make attempts to provoke the people.
"Nobody should start dreaming that they can polarize [the people]," Akçay said, adding that nobody should ask people to pour out onto the streets for their political gains.
Doğu Perinçek, a prominent Turkish politician and leader of the Patriotic Party (VP) also criticized the CHP for its calls.
"The CHP administration should immediately end incitements that lay the foundations for the PKK's street appeals," Perinçek asserted.
He also called on the CHP to stop collaborating with the pro-PKK Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).
During Sunday night's count, the Turkish Supreme Election Board (YSK) suddenly announced that unverified votes, which had not been authenticated as genuine by election officials, would be allowed. This led to a protest by the main opposition CHP, which said it would challenge the result, complaining about other violations that occurred during the referendum.
The CHP's vehement opposition to the referendum results led to public protests in major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said he respected the nation's will but the decision to allow the unsealed ballots overshadowed the results.
"The rule of a match cannot be changed while the match is being played, this is a universal rule," Kılıçdaroğlu said.
Earlier, YSK head Sadi Güven said a "unanimous decision" had been made before transferring the unverified votes to the system. "Before counting, ballots, the envelopes and voters' numbers are cross checked," he said speaking at the YSK office in Ankara. He added that unsealed voting envelopes have been included in past elections.
Meanwhile, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli commented on the recent developments via his official Twitter account.
Stressing that the YSK has the final decision, Bahçeli said, "They called the April 16 a referendum without a stamp. They said they do not recognize it. They discussed its legitimacy. However, the YSK made the final decision and closed this matter."
According to unofficial results, the "yes" campaign won with 51.41 percent of the vote, with the "no" camp garnering the remaining 48.59 percent and overall the voter turnout was at 85.46 percent. The official results are expected to be revealed next week.
Last Update: April 21, 2017 01:43