Turkey opposition to challenge referendum in European court

Turkey's main opposition party said today it would challenge last-minute changes to voting rules in the referendum on expanding President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's powers at the European Court of Human Rights.
"The decision we have made is to go to the ECHR," Republican People's Party (CHP) spokeswoman Selin Sayek Boke said.
The move comes after the party's legal challenge to the voting rule changes was rejected today by the country's highest administrative court, the Council of State.
The opposition argues an "administrative" decision by the Supreme Election Board (YSK) to accept ballot documents in envelopes without an official stamp paved the way for fraud.

The top court said yesterday it did not have the jurisdiction to rule on the YSK move.
Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag has previously said the party could not challenge the decision in Turkey's top courts including the Constitutional Court.

The 'Yes' camp won 51.41 per cent in the April 16 vote in a tighter-than-expected victory, but opponents claim the result would have been reversed in a fair poll. The CHP was at the forefront of the 'No' campaign.
The changes approved will wholly come into force from November 2019 and see the role of prime minister axed while the president will be given the power to appoint ministers.

Opponents claim it will lead to one-man rule while the government says it will ensure political stability for a country that has experienced multiple unstable coalitions.