Istanbul – Turkey’s election commission on Wednesday rejected opposition applications to annul the recent constitutional referendum, broadcasters CNN Turk and NTV reported.
The opposition cited possible irregularities in the tight race, especially a decision by the election commission, made while voting was well under way, to count ballots that were not officially sealed.
The seal, required under election rules, is meant to prevent fraud.
Out of the 11 members of the commission allowed to vote, 10 were in favour of rejecting the complaints while one voted to accept the opposition’s calls, both broadcasters reported.
President Recep Erdogan declared victory in the referendum within hours of polls closing. State-run media showed the “yes” camp ahead by about 51.4 per cent.
NAN reports that Turkey’s main secularist opposition CHP said it will present its appeal for the annulment of Sunday’s referendum boosting the powers of Erdogan to the High Electoral Board (YSK) on Tuesday, the party said in a statement.
The People’s Republican Party (CHP) said Deputy Chairman Bulent Tezcan would present the appeal to the YSK at 2:30 p.m.
The CHP on Monday called for the annulment of the referendum and said it would take its challenge to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary, after a last-minute decision by the electoral board to allow unstamped ballots.