Robust turnout abroad in Turkey's referendum

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN (AA) - More than 300,000 Turkish migrants in Germany have gone to the polls in the first week of voting in Turkey’s constitutional referendum, a greater turnout compared to November 2015’s early general election.

Since ballot boxes were opened last Monday, nearly 305,000 Turkish citizens have cast their vote at 13 consulates and polling stations across Germany, according to figures compiled by Turkey’s Justice and Development (AK) Party.

The high turnout was reflected in long queues in front of Turkish consulates in Dusseldorf and Cologne on Sunday, two major northwestern German cities with large Turkish communities.

When expats voted in Turkey’s early elections in November 2015, turnout was much lower. Ahead of that vote, only around 250,000 overseas Turks cast their ballots.

The ongoing debate in Germany over Turkey’s proposed presidential system plus recent tensions between Ankara and Berlin have increased interest among expatriate Turks.

Last month, some local authorities in Germany banned various rallies by Turkish ministers campaigning for a Yes vote. No such measures were taken against public meetings backing the No campaign.

Several German politicians have publicly campaigned against the proposed presidential system, drawing sharp criticism from Ankara which accused them of interfering in Turkey's internal affairs.

In Germany, nearly half of three million Turkish immigrants are eligible to vote; they can cast their ballots at one of the 13 polling stations until April 9.

In Turkey, 55.3 million people who are eligible to vote can go to the polls on April 16.