Erdogan urges overseas Turks to vote in referendum
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E-mail Xinhua, March 9, 2017
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday urged Turkish citizens living abroad to participate in the upcoming referendum despite "obstacles" being placed on their path.
"Whatever obstacle they place in front of you, you should go and cast your votes on the date announced for you to participate in the polls," Erdogan said via the state-run TRT television network.
The president's remarks came after some European countries set "obstacles" for Turkish referendum campaign rally in local Turks community.
As scheduled, Turkish voters will go to polls on April 16 for a constitutional referendum that would turn the country from parliamentary to presidential system.
Last week, Germany local authorities cancelled several events related to Turkey's April 16 referendum that Turkish government ministers had planned to address, which suddenly heightened tension between Turkey and Germany. Austria and Netherlands also hold opposite attitudes towards the campaign rally in their countries.
Constitutional reforms and the change to a presidential system have been on political agenda since Erdogan was elected as president in August 2014, and accelerated since the failed coup last summer. The ruling party AKP wants to urge Turkish citizens living abroad to vote for presidential system, which can enhance the power of president in future.
"Your votes will be the most meaningful response to the countries in the West and the world. Nobody has the right to prevent your will," Erdogan said.
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