Opposition party to demand annulation of referendum

pulse

April 18, 2017 12:55 PM

The country's "Yes" camp won Sunday's referendum with 51.41 percent of the vote.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of Turkey's main opposition party the Republican People's Party (CHP), speaks at the Turkish parliament in Ankara, on April 18, 2017

Turkeys main opposition party on Tuesday will formally present the Supreme Election Board (YSK) with a demand to annul the result of the referendum granting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan new powers, after alleging major violations.

Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy chairman Bulent Tezcan will present the demand at 1130 GMT, the party said in a statement.

The opposition has been particularly incensed by a last-minute move from the YSK to accept ballot documents in envelopes without an official stamp.

The "Yes" camp won Sunday's referendum with 51.41 percent of the vote but the aftermath has been shadowed by opposition claims of blatant vote-rigging and angry protests in parts of Istanbul.

Speaking to a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Ankara, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said "everyone has to respect the result, including the main opposition party."

"The nation's will emerged freely from the ballot box... This work has now finished. It's wrong to say something after the nation has spoken," he said.

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