TURKEY Referendum: Ankara rejects EU appeal for investigation

Turkey rejected on Tuesday the European Union’s call for an investigation into alleged irregularities in the referendum on the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, urging him to respect the outcome of the vote.

“Such a speculative statement by a spokesman can not be accepted,” Turkish Foreign Minister Omer Celik told a press conference. He called on the EU to respect “democratic processes”.

The European Union earlier called on Turkey to “open a transparent inquiry” following a report by a joint observer mission of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council Of Europe believing that the Sunday referendum won shortly by Mr Erdogan had taken place in unfair conditions and did not meet the democratic criteria. “We call on all actors to exercise restraint and the authorities to open a transparent investigation into the alleged irregularities that have been observed by international observers,” said European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas.

The biggest Turkish opposition party, the CHP, on Tuesday presented to the High Council of Electors (YSK) a request to cancel the referendum, citing “manipulations” during the vote. The CHP and the main pro-Kurdish party, the HDP, particularly question the decision of the YSK to consider as valid the ballots not marked with the official seal of the electoral authorities.

Cezar Florin Preda, head of the delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), who deployed observers to Turkey, said on Monday that it had “suppressed” An important safeguard “in the ballot.