The head of the main opposition party says the referendum has taken place in “unfair circumstances” and that those on the Yes side have gone beyond legal limits.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Photograph: Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images
Not wasting any time, Erdogan says he will now discuss the issue of reinstating the death penalty with the prime minister and the leader of a nationalist opposition party.
The president said he would consider calling a referendum on the issue if necessary.
Residents are banging pots and pans from windows in several neighbourhoods in Istanbul in protest at the referendum result, Reuters reports.
There were such protested in at least four districts of Turkey’s biggest city, which voted “no”. Video and pictures posted on social media showed small pockets of protesters taking to the streets in some areas.
President Erdoğan: Turkey has made a historic decision
In a press conference following his party’s declaration of victory, President Erdoğan said that unofficial results showed around 25m yes votes, 1.3m ahead of no.
In an unusually muted victory speech Erdoğan said foreign powers should respect the referendum’s outcome. He says: “We’ve got a lot to do, we are on this path but it’s time to change gears and go faster.”
Erdoğan claimed support for constitutional change has risen in south-east Turkey and hailed a “profound” jump in support for a presidential system that was unpopular just two years ago. Overseas votes were a “big part” of that success, he added.
He said new executive presidency would likely go into effect after the 2019 election.
He told the country is in an important “civilian change”. He said: “We are carrying out the most important reform in the history of our nation.” The president called the referendum a victory for everyone who voted, whether they voted yes or no.