As we know from the Quebec referenda, and the subsequent Clarity Act, the politics of a referendum question is essential to the outcome of a referendum. So why did the Turkish government choose not to have a question on the ballot for Sunday’s referendum? The decision to keep the focus on Erdogan, instead of the proposed changes, might be the best bet to get a “Yes” vote. These few points alone show the significance of the proposed changes and their impact on the already weakened separation of powers in Turkey. Even with Erdogan’s domestic popularity, the “Yes” vote is not a done deal, and the unpopularity of the proposed changes remains a major challenge.

Source: National Post April 12, 2017 18:22 UTC