Turkey's main opposition party to vote no in referendum

By Meltem Ozturk

ANKARA

Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) will vote "no" in the upcoming referendum on the constitution change, its party leader said.

Speaking during his party’s parliamentary group meeting in Ankara on Tuesday, Kemal Kilicdaroglu said: "We will go to the referendum and vote for democracy."

Constitutional reform and the change to a presidential system has been on the political agenda since Erdogan, a former prime minister and Justice and Development (AK) Party leader, was elected president in August 2014.

On Jan. 20, Turkish lawmakers from the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party and the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) voted in favor of a new constitutional reform package.

Kilicdaroglu warned that handing over authority to a single person would drive Turkey on a dangerous path.

He added that the new constitution would not solve Turkey's problems whether they be terror, unemployment or education.

"So what should we do in this referendum? We must boost our No [votes]," he said.

Aside from the change to an executive presidency, other reforms include allowing the president to maintain party political affiliation.

The referendum for constitutional change is expected to be held on either April 9 or April 16.