TwoSevensClash
12th September 2010, 19:30
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11278602
With 99% of votes in the referendum counted, 58% voted "Yes" to amending the constitution, Turkish media said.
The opposition argues that the governing party, which has its roots in political Islam, is seeking dangerous levels of control over the judiciary.
The government says it wants to bring the constitution more in line with European Union standards.
"We have passed a historic threshold on the way to advanced democracy and the supremacy of law," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said to the applause of party activists.
Early opinion polls had predicted a close result. Analysts say a strong "Yes" vote will boost Mr Erdogan's government.
His Justice and Development Party (AKP) will be seeking a third consecutive term in office in a general election due to take place before July 2011.
The AKP has clashed repeatedly with Turkey's highest courts, which see themselves as guardians of the country's secular values.
Bad-tempered campaign The opposition say two of the 26 planned amendments would give the government excessive influence over the judiciary.
They accuse the AKP of trying to seize control of the judiciary as part of a back-door Islamist coup.
The bad-tempered campaign preceding the referendum has once again highlighted the polarisation between secular and religious Turks, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul.
There was a substantial "No" vote in many western cities where suspicion of a possible religious agenda by the governing party still runs very high, our correspondent says.
The present constitution was drawn up by a military junta which seized power in a coup exactly 30 years ago, on 12 September 1980.
In all, the reform package includes 26 amendments to the 1982 constitution, many of them backed by the EU.
Civilian courts will have the power to try military personnel for crimes against the state, while sacked military officers will have the right to appeal against their dismissal.
Gender equality will be strengthened, and discrimination against children, the old and disabled banned.
Workers will be allowed to join more than one union and the ban on politically-motivated strikes will be removed.
In parliament, elected lawmakers will be able to stay on if their party is disbanded by the court.
Theirs some good stuff in it especially the union stuff. Though it still leaves the capitalist system in place. I am interested in what Devrim thinks since he is from Turkey.
With 99% of votes in the referendum counted, 58% voted "Yes" to amending the constitution, Turkish media said.
The opposition argues that the governing party, which has its roots in political Islam, is seeking dangerous levels of control over the judiciary.
The government says it wants to bring the constitution more in line with European Union standards.
"We have passed a historic threshold on the way to advanced democracy and the supremacy of law," Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said to the applause of party activists.
Early opinion polls had predicted a close result. Analysts say a strong "Yes" vote will boost Mr Erdogan's government.
His Justice and Development Party (AKP) will be seeking a third consecutive term in office in a general election due to take place before July 2011.
The AKP has clashed repeatedly with Turkey's highest courts, which see themselves as guardians of the country's secular values.
Bad-tempered campaign The opposition say two of the 26 planned amendments would give the government excessive influence over the judiciary.
They accuse the AKP of trying to seize control of the judiciary as part of a back-door Islamist coup.
The bad-tempered campaign preceding the referendum has once again highlighted the polarisation between secular and religious Turks, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in Istanbul.
There was a substantial "No" vote in many western cities where suspicion of a possible religious agenda by the governing party still runs very high, our correspondent says.
The present constitution was drawn up by a military junta which seized power in a coup exactly 30 years ago, on 12 September 1980.
In all, the reform package includes 26 amendments to the 1982 constitution, many of them backed by the EU.
Civilian courts will have the power to try military personnel for crimes against the state, while sacked military officers will have the right to appeal against their dismissal.
Gender equality will be strengthened, and discrimination against children, the old and disabled banned.
Workers will be allowed to join more than one union and the ban on politically-motivated strikes will be removed.
In parliament, elected lawmakers will be able to stay on if their party is disbanded by the court.
Theirs some good stuff in it especially the union stuff. Though it still leaves the capitalist system in place. I am interested in what Devrim thinks since he is from Turkey.