Turkey's electoral body has rejected a call from the country's leading opposition party to annul the results of a referendum that granted sweeping new powers to the presidency and could allow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to remain in power until 2029.
The People's Republican Party (CHP) filed the request with the Supreme Electoral Council (YSK) on April 18, challenging the results of the April 16 referendum on grounds that it was "illegitimate" because of voting irregularities -- including the use of unstamped ballot papers, RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty reports citing Turkish media.
Turkey's private NTV reported on April 19 that 10 YSK members voted against annulling the referendum, while one member voted in favor of the call.
