Turkey vote will decide direction of governance

ISTANBUL - As soon as school is over, Burcu and Ece take a bus to Besiktas Square in central Istanbul. The moment they are there, the bosom buddies, both aged 15, pick up "No" flyers from tents set up for a referendum campaign and start passing them out.

"Go to the polls and cast your vote," shout the girls, who are wearing identical flower hair bands. Their shouts are mostly lost in the street noise.

Turks face a historic referendum on Sunday, when they must decide whether to grant the country's president more sweeping powers and curb those of the parliament.

There are 18 proposed amendments to the constitution to be voted on, but the most controversial is the transition from a parliamentary system to an executive presidency.

Critics say it is a "change of regime" rather than a "system change" as claimed by the ruling Justice and Development Party and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, thus leading to one-man rule in the country.

The president and his supporters argue that a presidential system will make him better positioned to confront terrorism and other woes facing Turkey.

With the clock ticking down, all segments in society are urging youth to cast their ballots, even as polls suggest most young people, particularly university students, will stay away from the polls on the voting day.

According to press reports, 45 percent of university students across the country say they will not cast their ballots.

The number of voters aged 18 to 25 has hit nine million from the nation's total of 58 million.

"We are appealing to all people to cast their votes but mainly our older brothers and sisters, who are over 18-year-old and eligible to vote," Burcu told Xinhua. "They shouldn't forget they are going to determine our future as well."

Burcu and her friend said they believe in democracy and envision a democratic Turkey in the future.

"Everyone should have a say in the system," said Ece. "Otherwise it wouldn't be any different than a monarchy."

Burcu said she would consider living abroad "if everything becomes intolerable under a one-man rule."

"I do not want to leave this country," she added. "I should have a future in my own country that I would defend with all my heart."

Right next to Burcu and Ece, Zeynep Kobalaz, another young woman wearing a headscarf, was distributing "Yes" flyers.

"Casting our votes is a citizen's duty," the 25-year-old told Xinhua. "I invite all people, no matter what they say, to go to polls for our future, for our children and even for our grandchildren."

She believes there will be a better Turkey under the new constitution as "the country will be able to solve its problems easily."

Last month, the proposed amendments being voted on in the referendum were described as a "dangerous step backwards" for democracy by the Council of Europe's Venice Commission.

Xinhua