International backing given to Turkish reform vote
13 September 2010
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan (left) and Turkish President Abdullah Gul cast their votes
The US and Germany have welcomed the result of the Turkish constitutional referendum.
The US President Barack Obama and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle have issued statements commending the vote.
Voters in Turkey gave strong backing to a package of changes to the country's military-era constitution.
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The changes are aimed at bringing Turkey in line with the European Union, which the government wants to join.
With nearly all votes in the referendum counted, about 58% had voted "Yes" to amending the constitution.
Prime Minster Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the result meant the country had "crossed a historic threshold toward advanced democracy and the supremacy of law".
The opposition argues that the governing party, which has its roots in political Islam, is seeking dangerous levels of control over the judiciary.
Balance of power
Mr Obama called Mr Erdogan to congratulate him.
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Turkey referendum
• 58% voted "Yes" to 26 proposed amendments to 1982 constitution
• 42% voted "No"
• 49.5m people eligible to vote
• Turnout was 78%
The US president "acknowledged the vibrancy of Turkey's democracy as reflected in the turnout for the referendum that took place across Turkey today", a statement released by the White House said.
Mr Westerwelle said the vote was critical for Turkey's bid to join the European Union.
"This discussion in society, also about the concrete form of the balance of power in the state, is very much to be welcomed," Mr Westerwelle said in a statement.
Analysts say the strong "Yes" vote will boost Mr Erdogan's government.
'Islamist coup'
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.
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Analysis
image of Jonathan Head Jonathan Head BBC News, Istanbul
The Turkish prime minister put a lot of effort into persuading voters to back his reform plan, travelling constantly across the country over the past month to drum up support.
That effort seems to have paid off.
He argued the reforms would significantly improve Turkey's democracy and with it, prospects of eventually joining the European Union.
The main opposition party argued that reforms to top judicial bodies in particular were undemocratic, that they gave the government too much influence over the courts.
The bad-tempered campaign preceding the referendum has once again highlighted the polarisation between secular and religious Turks.
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.
The AKP has clashed repeatedly with Turkey's highest courts, which see themselves as guardians of the country's secular values.
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.
In Istanbul - the most Westernised city in Turkey, where many are suspicious of the AKP's religious agenda - Ozgur Deniz voted "No".
"The bad thing about this referendum was that we had to either choose or reject the whole package," he told the BBC.
"This is a package where some things are good for democracy - such as less power for the military. But there are some items which might be used by the government to use democracy for non-democratic purposes, like the item regarding the judiciary," he said.
"This election shows the commitment of Turkish people to a more democratic Turkey, and the army has not got the same power as before," wrote Ahmet from Eskisehir in an e-mail to the BBC.
The Turkish President, Abdullah Gul, appealed for national unity. "From tomorrow onwards, Turkey needs to unite as one, and look ahead.
Mr Erdogan says the result is a "milestone for democracy"
"The public has the final say in democracies. I would like to remind everyone to welcome the result with respect and maturity."
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.
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