Trump congratulates Erdogan as others dispute his election
The leader of Turkey’s main nationalist party has declared victory...
President Trump called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday to congratulate him on a referendum that expands his presidential powers — even as the US State Department joined others in disputing the election’s results.
Trump made the congratulatory call to Erdogan as election monitors said the vote was flawed by “intimidation and unfair campaigning.”
“President Donald J. Trump spoke today with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey to congratulate him on his recent referendum victory,” read a statement from The White House.
By a slim margin, 51.4 percent of Turks voted to replace Turkey’s parliamentary system with a presidential one.
Opposition parties and Monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe called for the vote to be annulled because of a series of irregularities.
In light of the allegations, the US State Department urged the country to respect the rights of its voters.
“We look to the government of Turkey to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of all its citizens,” said the department’s acting spokesman, Mark Toner.
The Trump Organization has financial ties in the country and first daughter Ivanka Trump even tweeted in 2012 about meeting with President Erdogan in Istanbul.
“Thank you Prime Minister Erdogan for joining us yesterday to celebrate the launch of #TrumpTowers Istanbul!” Ivanka tweeted at the time.
With Post Wire Services