Omar Bennett
Turkey has held several referendums since its transition from single-party rule to a multi-party system in 1946. The most recent Turkish constitutional referendum took place on 16 April 2017. The referendum was held under a state of emergency that was declared following the failed military coup attempt in July 2016. The referendum asked Turkish citizens to approve or reject 18 proposed amendments to the Turkish constitution, which would significantly increase the powers of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 16 April 2017 |
| Location | Turkey |
| Type of Referendum | Constitutional |
| Purpose | To approve proposed amendments to the Turkish constitution |
| Proposed By | Governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) |
| Outcome | Approval; 51% voted "Yes" |
| Impact | Office of Prime Minister abolished; parliamentary system replaced with executive presidency; number of seats in Parliament raised from 550 to 600; president given more control over appointments to the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) |
| Notable Issues | Held under a state of emergency following a failed military coup attempt in July 2016; concerns about voting irregularities and fairness; diplomatic crisis with several European countries |
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What You'll Learn
The referendum took place on 16 April 2017
The referendum was proposed by the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The amendments included replacing the parliamentary system with an executive presidency, increasing the number of seats in Parliament, and giving the president more control over appointments to the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK). The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe defined the amendments as "a threat to democracy".
The referendum was preceded by a highly divisive campaign, with the Yes campaign facing restrictions in several European countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Switzerland. There were also concerns about voting irregularities, with "Yes" voters in Germany caught attempting to vote multiple times and possessing ballot papers before the official start of overseas voting. The referendum resulted in a narrow victory for the "Yes" vote, with a 51–49% lead.
The outcome of the referendum had significant implications for Turkey's political system and the country's future trajectory. The office of Prime Minister was abolished, and the president was granted sweeping powers, raising concerns about a slide towards authoritarianism and the erosion of judicial independence. The referendum also impacted diplomatic relations, particularly with European countries, and sparked debates about the fairness and legitimacy of the vote.
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18 amendments were proposed by the AKP and MHP
On 16 April 2017, a constitutional referendum took place in Turkey. The referendum was held to decide on 18 proposed amendments to the Turkish constitution, which were brought forward by the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
The AKP and MHP initially proposed 21 amendments, but after Assembly Commission talks, 3 proposals were withdrawn, leaving 18 amendments. The AKP and MHP began collecting signatures from MPs to initiate the referendum, and the proposals were scrutinized by the Parliamentary Constitutional Commission, which made minor changes to some proposals.
The 18 amendments included significant changes to the Turkish constitution, such as the abolition of the office of Prime Minister, the replacement of the parliamentary system with an executive presidency, and an increase in the number of seats in Parliament from 550 to 600. The amendments also gave the president more control over appointments to the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK).
The referendum was held under a state of emergency that was declared following a failed military coup attempt in July 2016. Early results indicated a narrow lead for the "Yes" vote, and the Supreme Electoral Council (YSK) controversially allowed non-stamped ballots to be accepted as valid. The referendum resulted in the approval of the 18 amendments, leading to a dramatic constitutional transformation that ended the system of parliamentary government in Turkey and concentrated power in the executive branch.
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The referendum was held under a state of emergency
The 2017 Turkish constitutional referendum was held under a state of emergency. This followed a failed military coup attempt in July 2016. The referendum sought to approve 18 proposed amendments to the Turkish constitution, which were brought forward by the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
The referendum was controversial, with critics arguing that it gave too much power to the country's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Indeed, the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe defined the proposed amendments as "a threat to democracy". The referendum resulted in the abolition of the office of Prime Minister and the replacement of the existing parliamentary system with an executive presidency and a presidential system. The number of seats in Parliament was also raised from 550 to 600, and the president was granted more control over appointments to the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK).
The referendum was held amidst a climate of intimidation and media suppression. There were reports of violence and scuffles during the parliamentary debates, with one government MP alleging that an opponent bit them. The Yes campaign faced restrictions in several European countries, causing a diplomatic crisis between Turkey and the Netherlands. There were also concerns about voting irregularities, with "Yes" voters in Germany caught attempting to vote multiple times and possessing ballot papers prematurely. European election monitors stated that the vote did not meet international standards.
The referendum took place during a state of emergency, leading to allegations that voters did not feel free to vote "No". Dr Kasim Han, a political scientist, noted that the complexity of the constitutional reform made it difficult for voters to understand the implications of the referendum, causing it to become focused on President Erdogan himself. The referendum ultimately passed with a slim majority, indicating a deeply divided country.
The referendum's outcome had significant implications for Turkey's political future. It granted President Erdogan unprecedented powers and allowed him to stay in power for an extended period. The referendum also impacted Turkey's relations with other countries, with some expressing concerns about the vote's fairness and the potential slide towards authoritarianism.
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The result was a narrow victory for the Yes campaign
On 16 April 2017, a constitutional referendum took place in Turkey. The referendum asked Turkish citizens to vote on 18 proposed amendments to the Turkish constitution, which were put forward by the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The result was a narrow victory for the 'Yes' campaign, with 51% of the vote.
The referendum was held under a state of emergency that was declared following a failed military coup attempt in July 2016. The proposed amendments were controversial, as they significantly increased the powers of the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Venice Commission of the Council of Europe even defined the amendments as "a threat to democracy". Despite this, the referendum resulted in a victory for the 'Yes' campaign, albeit a narrow one.
The 'Yes' campaign faced several setbacks, including campaigning restrictions by several European countries. The German, Dutch, Danish, and Swiss governments all cancelled or requested the suspension of 'Yes' campaign events aimed at Turkish voters living abroad. There were also concerns about voting irregularities, with some 'Yes' voters in Germany attempting to vote more than once and possessing ballot papers before the official start of overseas voting.
The referendum resulted in the abolition of the office of Prime Minister and the replacement of the parliamentary system with an executive presidency. The number of seats in Parliament was also raised from 550 to 600, and the president was granted more control over appointments to the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK). These changes represented a significant shift in the balance of power in Turkey, and the narrow victory of the 'Yes' campaign underscored the divided nature of public opinion on these issues.
The outcome of the referendum had a profound impact on Turkey's political landscape. With the approval of the constitutional amendments, President Erdogan's powers were expanded, and the country moved towards a more presidential system of governance. The narrow victory highlighted the deeply polarising nature of the proposed changes, with a significant portion of the Turkish electorate expressing concerns about the potential erosion of democratic principles and the concentration of power in the executive branch.
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The referendum caused a diplomatic crisis with several European countries
The 2017 Turkish constitutional referendum caused a diplomatic crisis with several European countries. The referendum was held in Turkey on 16 April 2017 and centred around a new draft constitution that would significantly increase the powers of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The referendum was held under a state of emergency that was declared following the failed military coup attempt in July 2016.
The "Yes" campaign faced restrictions by several European countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Switzerland, who cancelled or requested the suspension of campaign events directed at Turkish voters living abroad. These restrictions caused a sharp deterioration in diplomatic relations, particularly between Turkey and the Netherlands. There were also concerns about voting irregularities, with some "Yes" voters in Germany caught attempting to vote more than once and possessing ballot papers before the official start of overseas voting.
The Turkish government also accused Germany of supporting the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), designated as a terrorist organisation in both countries. This led to the cancellation of a scheduled speech by Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in Hamburg, instead taking place at the Hamburg consulate in violation of Turkish law forbidding election campaigns in diplomatic missions. Çavuşoğlu's official plane also had its permission to land revoked mid-air ahead of a planned campaign speech, further escalating tensions.
The referendum and its outcome have had broader implications for Turkey's relationship with the European Union (EU). The EU has criticised Turkey for human rights violations and deficits in rule of law, and the strong presidency created by the referendum has been seen as violating the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership. As a result, accession talks have stalled, and in 2019, a European parliament committee voted to suspend negotiations.
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Frequently asked questions
The referendum took place in Turkey.
The referendum resulted in a small majority for the "'Yes'" vote.
The referendum was held to approve 18 proposed amendments to the Turkish constitution.
The referendum was criticised for being held under a state of emergency, with concerns that people did not feel free to vote "No". There were also concerns about voting irregularities and the potential for the amendments to threaten democracy.
