TURKEY: Voting starts in Europe for Turkish referendum

Turkish citizens in six European countries have started to vote in a referendum, the campaign for which has caused an international dispute. Voters are choosing whether to move Turkey from a parliamentary republic to a presidential one, boosting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s powers. Some three million people are eligible to vote outside of Turkey, almost […]

Turkish citizens in six European countries have started to vote in a referendum, the campaign for which has caused an international dispute.
Voters are choosing whether to move Turkey from a parliamentary republic to a presidential one, boosting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s powers.
Some three million people are eligible to vote outside of Turkey, almost half of them living in Germany.
Despite the tension, voting began Monday at airports and border gates in Turkey, as well as in Turkish diplomatic missions in Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Switzerland, and Denmark.
In Germany, voters were divided over the vote.
But Senol Akkaya said people in Germany “almost feel guilty” if they support “yes”.
“There’s this obsession in Germany now, that if you’re for Erdogan, it automatically means you’re anti-democratic,” he told AP.
The referendum for constitutional changes is seen by man as increasing presidential powers
Ballot boxes will be available cross several cities in Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Switzerland, and Denmark till April 9.