Erdogan Follows Slim Referendum Win by Warning Opponents
- Turks narrowly approved constitutional changes by 51.4%
- EU Turkey rapporteur warns accession talks may be suspended
Erdogan Claims Win in Turkish Referendum
This article is for subscribers only.
An emboldened Recep Tayyip Erdogan followed his win in a referendum that ratified the supremacy of his rule by taking aim at political opponents at home and abroad.
At his victory speech late on Sunday, supporters chanted that he should bring back the death penalty -- a move that would finish off Turkey’s bid to join the European Union -- and Erdogan warned opponents not to bother challenging the legitimacy of his win. He told them to prepare for the biggest overhaul of Turkey’s system of governance ever, one that will result in him having even fewer checks on his already considerable power.