A referendum on constitutional amendments takes place in Turkey

In Turkey, a constitutional referendum takes place, as a result of which it will be decided whether the current president of the country will receive new powers. Citizens will be invited to vote for or against 18 amendments to the Constitution, which provide for the country's transition from the parliamentary republic to the presidential one.

If the majority of the voters say “yes” to the amendments, the president will become not only the head of state, but also the head of the executive branch. The position of the Prime Minister will be abolished. Erdogan will receive the right to independently declare a state of emergency and appoint senior officials. The presidential term is increasing from four to five years, it will be possible to occupy this position in a row.

The accepted changes will enter into force in 2019 simultaneously with the new presidential elections, which will give the opportunity to Erdogan, if he wins again, to stay in his post until 2029.

Despite the official ban on publishing any campaign materials on the voting day of the Turkish media today came out with motivating headlines in the first lanes. So, pro -government newspapers published a photograph of Erdogan on the first page, accompanying them with calls to go to polling stations for the sake of "strong Turkey" and "one people, one homeland and one flag." Some publications in almost open text urged to support reforms - "Yes! Now the people will say their word." The opposition media, which have recently been subjected to special pressure in Turkey, were mostly concise. Most of them came out with neutral headlines "The time has come to say their word to the people." The opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet designated its position. The material on the first lane was called "Voting for the Republic", implying the parliamentary system of government created by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.