Greater polarisation on the cards, as Turkey referendum neck and neck

Turkish media sources and sources close to Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has told MEMO that the vote looks like a “Yes” win, but only barely.

Turkish media sources and sources close to Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) have told MEMO that the vote looks like a “Yes” win, but only barely.

According to Turkish media and political sources, who are closely linked to the party and are based in Ankara, 90 per cent of votes have been counted, placing the “Yes” camp at 52.6 per cent of the vote with the “No” campaign only slightly lagging behind at 46.4 per cent.

Just as the narrow Brexit vote in the UK acted as a catalyst for steep political divisions and mistrust across the social and political spectrum, a narrow “Yes” win may radicalise politics in Turkey, especially amongst the opposition who may feel hard done by.

Like Brexit was to the British, the referendum is viewed as a very fundamental change to Turkey’s political culture, and the expansion of the powers of the presidency will herald a new chapter in the story of the Turkish republic, founded shortly after the end of World War I.

A polarising referendum win could therefore put a damper on an otherwise remarkable referendum win that will fundamentally alter Turkey.