200-year administrative system conflict solved: Erdogan

ANKARA Turkey’s president said that in Sunday’s referendum, Turkey has resolved a 200-year-old conflict in its administration by voting Yes on a presidential system. In a post-referendum speech at Huber Palace in Istanbul, Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the April 16 referendum “a major sign that our nation is protecting its future”. “Today, Turkey has made a historic decision on a 200-year-old conflict in its administrative system. That decision was no ordinary one. Today is the day when a change, a decision to shift to a truly serious administrative system was made,” Erdogan said. Erdogan said 25 million Yes votes were cast, with a 1.3-million vote margin of victory, according to unofficial results. “I would like to thank all our citizens, regardless of how they voted, who went to the polling stations to protect their national will". Erdogan said Turkey “has the power to overcome all kinds of problems, difficulties and crises," citing last July's attempted coup as a clear example of this. Erdogan said Turkey changed its governmental system through civilian means for the first time in its republic history. “For the first time in its history, Turkey decided on such an important change through the will of its national assembly and people. In the past, our constitutions and the governmental systems formed by them were decided either in extraordinary conditions like our War of Independence or during times of coups. For first time in the republic's history, Turkey changed its governmental system through civilian means". Erdogan underlined that the new presidential system “separates the executive, legislative, and judicial branches”. “These three organs will serve collaboratively towards the same common goal, that is, one nation, flag, and state," he added.