Record turnout of expats for constitutional referendum

ANKARA

Turkish voters living abroad turned out in record numbers to decide on a referendum on constitutional amendments, the head of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's overseas election coordination center said Monday.

“Voters from abroad have provided a strong support to the referendum with more than 48 percent turnout,” Mustafa Yeneroglu said in a written statement.

More than 59 percent of expats who participated voted in favor of the constitutional amendment that will shift the country’s current parliamentary system to a presidential form of governance, Yeneroglu said.

Approximately 77 percent of Turks in Belgium, 73 percent in the Netherlands, 65 percent in France and 63 percent in Germany voted “Yes”.

Millions of voters went to the polls Sunday to decide changes to the country’s Constitution that would usher in an executive presidency.

Unofficial results show 51 percent voting in favor of the changes while less than 49 percent opposed the new laws.

*Reporting by Tanju Ozkaya; Writing by Sorwar Alam