Erdogan congratulates party heads on referendum victory

By Ilkay Guder

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's president has congratulated the heads of political parties which supported the Yes campaign in Sunday's referendum.

After voting in Turkey’s constitutional referendum concluded nationwide, Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday evening had phone conversations with ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party leader Binali Yildirim, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli, and Grand Unity Party (BBP) Mustafa Destici, presidential sources said.

Erdogan congratulated the party leaders on their referendum victory, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The president also thanked the voters who went to the polls to reflect their choice.

Meanwhile, many world leaders have sent congratulatory messages to Erdogan, the sources added.

As of 9.25 p.m. (1825GMT), unofficial results showed Yes with 51.34 percent -- 24,789,242 votes -- while No had 48.66 percent, or 23,499,390 votes.

Sunday’s referendum asked voters to choose Yes or No on an 18-article bill that would see the country switch from a parliamentary to a presidential system, among other changes.