Bulgarian Turkish minority party calls for ‘No’ vote in Turkey’s referendum

SOFIA

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The Rights and Freedoms Party (HÖH), a party dominated by the Turkish minority in Bulgaria, has issued a “No” call for the oncoming constitutional referendum in Turkey.

The party issued a statement on April 6 saying the referendum on whether to shift Turkey to an executive presidential system threatened democracy, fundamental rights and freedoms. 

In the statement, HÖH chair Mustafa Karadayı said “Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is trying to obtain the whole power of the government. 

“Erdoğan wants to become party chair, prime minster and also president at the same time without any checks or balances,” he added.     

The statement also added that they said “No” to “violations of human rights and freedoms,” “lack of freedom expression and detention of journalists,” and “controlled coup attempts.”

“[Voters should reject] the conversion of the Kemalist Turkish Republic to a sultanate. This conversion will be harmful for Turkey regarding its neighbors, the region and the world,” it said. 

Almost 700,000 ethnic Turks are living in Bulgaria. The HÖH was founded in 1990 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.