Turkey’s neighbors weigh in on 'Yes' results in constitutional referendum
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Leaders from Greece and Cyprus were quick to opine on the initial results showing the apparent approval of Turkey’s proposed constitutional changes via referendum — some against, some looking for the positives. European leaders are remaining cautious but noted that Turkey’s accession into the European Union will likely be put on hold.
Initial results indicate a deeply divided Turkey, and could be considered a marginal but controversial victory for Erdogan, said Greek leftist MEP and vice-president of the EU parliament Dimitris Papadimoulis, according to the Greek Ekathimerini news.
Greece has a long and often rivalrous history with its NATO ally Turkey. Greece has opposed Turkey’s ascension into the European Union.
George Koumoutsakos of the Christian Democrats stressed that Greece looks forward to friendly relations and cooperation with its neighbors despite the serious constitutional change in Turkey, according to Ekathimerini.
Andreas Loverdos, a socialist and Greece's former education minister, labelled the Turkish leadership as a "Caesar regime," according to Ekathimerini, expressing concern for Euro-Turkish relations and for the wider southeastern Mediterranean.
As of Monday evening, the state-run Anadolu Agency in Turkey reported 51.41 percent of ballots cast chose ‘Yes’ in the referendum, while 48.59 percent chose ‘No’ after 100 percent of ballots have been opened.
Media outlets in Cyprus widely reported on Monday that the 'No' vote had prevailed.
The government of Cyprus is not recognized by Turkey and the island is divided with Turkish military in the north. Turkish citizens there voted 54.82 percent ‘No.’
Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades “expressed the hope that Cyprus will soon witness the termination of the current unacceptable situation (the forcible division of Cyprus by Turkey through military occupation) and the prevalence of the principles of law and peace throughout the country for the benefit of all its lawful citizens," the Cyprus Mail wrote on Sunday.
Turkey also shares its borders with Syria, Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, Iran, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Bulgaria.
Leaders from the European Union, with which Turkey has spent years in talks to join the bloc, expressed doubt over the continuation of those negotiations after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would make moves to bring back the death penalty – a clear red line for the EU.
Regarding Turkish accession to the EU, “Any decision will not be on the agenda anytime soon. At any rate, joining would not work right now,” Germany’s Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said in an interview with Bild.
Belgian’s Foreign Minister Didier Reynders and French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron made similar comments.
Gabriel, however, said that Turkey should remain a member of NATO. “We want to keep Turkey close and not push it into isolation when it comes to foreign affairs or even into the direction of Russia,” he said.
The constitutional changes narrowly approved on Sunday pave the way for Erdogan to stay in power until 2029 as he would have the right to stand in the presidential elections for two more five-year terms under the new constitution.
The changes also allow for the president to maintain ties to a political party. Erdogan was obliged to officially give up leading the ruling AKP when he became president in 2014, in line with the current constitution.
Under the new constitution, the president will have the power to propose the country’s annual budget proposal to parliament, and replace Turkey’s Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors with a new body of just 13 members, three of whom would be named by the president, while the rest would be elected by the parliament, chaired by the justice minister under the new name of the Judges and Prosecutors’ Council.
Initial results indicate a deeply divided Turkey, and could be considered a marginal but controversial victory for Erdogan, said Greek leftist MEP and vice-president of the EU parliament Dimitris Papadimoulis, according to the Greek Ekathimerini news.
Greece has a long and often rivalrous history with its NATO ally Turkey. Greece has opposed Turkey’s ascension into the European Union.
George Koumoutsakos of the Christian Democrats stressed that Greece looks forward to friendly relations and cooperation with its neighbors despite the serious constitutional change in Turkey, according to Ekathimerini.
Andreas Loverdos, a socialist and Greece's former education minister, labelled the Turkish leadership as a "Caesar regime," according to Ekathimerini, expressing concern for Euro-Turkish relations and for the wider southeastern Mediterranean.
As of Monday evening, the state-run Anadolu Agency in Turkey reported 51.41 percent of ballots cast chose ‘Yes’ in the referendum, while 48.59 percent chose ‘No’ after 100 percent of ballots have been opened.
Media outlets in Cyprus widely reported on Monday that the 'No' vote had prevailed.
The government of Cyprus is not recognized by Turkey and the island is divided with Turkish military in the north. Turkish citizens there voted 54.82 percent ‘No.’
Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades “expressed the hope that Cyprus will soon witness the termination of the current unacceptable situation (the forcible division of Cyprus by Turkey through military occupation) and the prevalence of the principles of law and peace throughout the country for the benefit of all its lawful citizens," the Cyprus Mail wrote on Sunday.
Turkey also shares its borders with Syria, Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, Iran, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Bulgaria.
Leaders from the European Union, with which Turkey has spent years in talks to join the bloc, expressed doubt over the continuation of those negotiations after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would make moves to bring back the death penalty – a clear red line for the EU.
Regarding Turkish accession to the EU, “Any decision will not be on the agenda anytime soon. At any rate, joining would not work right now,” Germany’s Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said in an interview with Bild.
Belgian’s Foreign Minister Didier Reynders and French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron made similar comments.
Gabriel, however, said that Turkey should remain a member of NATO. “We want to keep Turkey close and not push it into isolation when it comes to foreign affairs or even into the direction of Russia,” he said.
The constitutional changes narrowly approved on Sunday pave the way for Erdogan to stay in power until 2029 as he would have the right to stand in the presidential elections for two more five-year terms under the new constitution.
The changes also allow for the president to maintain ties to a political party. Erdogan was obliged to officially give up leading the ruling AKP when he became president in 2014, in line with the current constitution.
Under the new constitution, the president will have the power to propose the country’s annual budget proposal to parliament, and replace Turkey’s Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors with a new body of just 13 members, three of whom would be named by the president, while the rest would be elected by the parliament, chaired by the justice minister under the new name of the Judges and Prosecutors’ Council.