Donald Trump calls Turkey's president to congratulate him on winning referendum [View all]

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Donald Trump has called Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to congratulate him on his victory in a referendum granting him extended new powers, sources in Mr Erdogan's palace have said.

Turkey voted on Sunday to introduce a raft of constitutional changes that mean Turkey's parliamentary democracy can be replaced with an executive presidency, greatly increasing Mr Erdogan's powers. Unofficial results, which the opposition said it would challenge, showed a narrow victory for him with 51.4 per cent of votes cast in favour.

The vote allows Mr Erdogan the ability to stay in power until at least 2029 — since he will have the chance to run for re-election in 2019 and potentially serve two five-year terms.

Shortly after the results were announced, Mr Erdogan renewed suggestions the country could hold a referendum on reinstating the death penalty.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/donald-trump-recep-tayyip-erdogan-congratulates-winning-referendum-a7688101.html