Turkey: Rival referendum activists campaign peacefully

By Turan Kazak

AKSARAY, Turkey

With 11 days left until Turkey’s nationwide referendum on constitutional reform, both Yes and No activists have continued their campaigns side-by-side in the central city of Aksaray.

Political parties from both sides set up campaign tents in the city’s July 15 National Will Square, trying to convince the public of their cause.

Volunteers from the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party -- which supports a Yes vote, and backers of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) -- which favors a No -- rubbed shoulders as they campaigned.

Activists engaged with local people, trying to convince them why they should vote for in favor of the amendments or reject them.

“Everyone describes their thoughts in democracies and then people make a choice,” said the AK Party’s local lawmaker, Mustafa Serdengecti.

He said the nation would be the final decision maker.

“Everybody will accept the decision of the nation. This is the characteristic of democracy,” he added.

Ismail Karaca, leader of the CHP’s Aksaray youth branch, echoed Serdengecti and said: “The nation will have the final word.”

“We are 80 million brothers. Both Yes and No backers are children and citizens of this country. We will continue our works in squares with these views,” he added.

Gulhan Tosun, an Aksaray local who visited the square, said she was happy with the campaign atmosphere.

“The tents of the No and Yes campaigners are side by side in our square. Everyone is campaigning without any problem… Our expectation is a continuation of this atmosphere until April 16. Finally, we are brothers.”

“The citizens’ decision should be respected, whether it is Yes or No,” she added.

The referendum, which will take place on April 16, addresses a host of constitutional reforms, including a switch to a presidential system of governance.

If passed, reforms would hand wide-ranging executive powers to the president, while the post of prime minister would be abolished. The president would also be allowed to retain ties to a political party.

Other changes would see the minimum age of parliamentary candidates reduced to 18 and the number of lawmakers in parliament rising to 600.

Also, simultaneous parliamentary and presidential elections for a five-year term would be held in November 2019.