Erdogan Wins Sweeping New Powers After Election Victory Amir Congratulates Turkish President; Opposition Warns of One-Man Rule
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SHAWWAL 12, 1439 AH TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2018 Max 46º 28 Pages Min 31º 150 Fils Established 1961 ISSUE NO: 17566 The First Daily in the Arabian Gulf www.kuwaittimes.net Woman, two kids killed 86 killed as clashes erupt Global stock markets sink on Uruguay top World Cup 3 as three vehicles collide 6 in restive central Nigeria 12 festering trade war and fear 27 Group A; Russia second Erdogan wins sweeping new powers after election victory Amir congratulates Turkish president; Opposition warns of one-man rule ANKARA: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan won Erdogan and the AK Party claimed victory in sweeping new executive powers yesterday after his Sunday’s presidential and parliamentary elections after victory in landmark elections that also saw his Islamist- defeating a revitalized opposition that had gained con- rooted AK Party and its nationalist allies secure a siderable momentum recently and looked capable of majority in parliament. Erdogan’s main rival, Muharrem staging an upset. “It is out of the question for us to turn Ince of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), conceded back from where we’ve brought our country in terms of defeat but branded the elections “unjust” and said the democracy and the economy,” Erdogan said on Sunday presidential system that now takes effect was “very night. His victory means he will remain president at dangerous” because it would lead to one-man rule. least until 2023 - the centenary of the founding of the A leading European rights watchdog that sent Turkish republic on the ashes of the Ottoman Empire observers to monitor the voting also said the opposi- by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Erdogan’s foes accuse him tion had faced “unequal conditions” and that limits on of dismantling Ataturk’s secular legacy by bringing reli- the freedom of media to cover the elections were fur- gion back into public life. ther hindered by a continuing state of emergency Erdogan responds to such criticism by saying he is try- imposed in Turkey after a failed 2016 coup. Erdogan, ing to modernize Turkey and improve religious freedoms. 64, the most popular - yet divisive - leader in modern With virtually all votes counted, Erdogan had 53 percent Turkish history, told jubilant, flag-waving supporters against Ince’s 31 percent, while in the parliamentary vote there would be no retreat from his drive to transform the AKP took 42.5 percent and its MHP nationalist allies Turkey, a NATO member and, at least nominally, a can- secured 11 percent, outstripping expectations. Turkish didate to join the European Union. markets initially rallied on hopes of increased political sta- He is loved by millions of devoutly Muslim working bility - investors had feared deadlock between Erdogan class Turks for delivering years of stellar economic and an opposition-controlled parliament - but then growth and overseeing the construction of roads, retreated amid concerns over future monetary policy. bridges, airports, hospitals and schools. But his critics, The vote ushers in a powerful executive presidency including rights groups, accuse him of destroying the backed by a narrow majority in a 2017 referendum. The independence of the courts and press freedoms. A office of prime minister will be abolished and Erdogan crackdown launched after the coup has seen 160,000 will be able to issue decrees to form and regulate min- people detained, and the state of emergency allows istries and remove civil servants, all without parliamen- ANKARA: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan greet supporters at the headquarters Erdogan to bypass parliament with decrees. He says it tary approval. of the AK Party in Ankara as they celebrate Erdogan winning five more years in office with sweeping new pow- will be lifted soon. Continued on Page 24 ers after a decisive election victory. -— AFP from the current 15. The third amendment obligates accounts for eight state authorities: The Anti- News in brief NA approves companies to distribute dividends within a month after Corruption Authority, the National Assembly, the general assembly meeting and not leaving it open. Compensation Claims Authority, Public Food Agency, 12 kids trapped in cave The Assembly also approved a government-sponsored Public Authority for Publishing Holy Quran, Public budgets, bill law to establish the Anti-Doping Agency despite some Authority for Civil Information, Public Youth Authority BANGKOK: A dramatic underwater rescue mission opposition from several lawmakers who opposed and Public Sports Authority. MP Safa Al-Hashem called to find a children’s football team who have been amendments establishing new government authorities at a time of for merging the Quran Authority with the Ministry of trapped in a flooded cave for two days was under- cutting spending. Awqaf and Islamic affairs. way in northern Thailand, officials said yesterday. KUWAIT: The National Assembly (NA) yesterday Only six MPs out of 51 attending the session The budgets were passed with little opposition but Divers have reached a large chamber of the vast approved amendments to a number of laws and opposed the law which was passed in two rounds. arguments were raised about the National Assembly cave inside which the 12 boys and their coach are budgets of eight state agencies in a special session in The Assembly also approved a government spon- budget after MP Shuaib Al-Muwaizri claimed that the believed to be stuck, said the deputy governor of which speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem strongly defend- sored law to authorize the Kuwait contribution of Assembly budget increased and that it was being used Chiang Rai province. “We think they are in this part ed the Assembly budget. MPs overwhelmingly passed over $536 million into the Asian Investment Bank. in unnecessary areas with suspicions of violations. of the cave, which continues for another three kilo- a number of key amendments to the corporate law to Finance Minister Nayef Al-Hajraf told the house that Speaker Ghanem defended the Assembly and said that meters,” Pasakorn Boonyalug said. “They haven’t strengthen the rights of minorities in shareholding HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah will over the past few years, the budget was reduced from eaten anything since Saturday, so we have brought companies. pay a state visit to China on July 7 - leading a high- KD 60 million to KD 40 million and categorically them food and drink,” he added. The children aged One amendment stipulates that the company general level economic delegation. denied any violation. Assembly officials also said that between 11 and 16 entered Tham Luang cave, in a assembly can be held with the attendance of just 10 The minister said that the contribution will give more Kuwaitis had been recently appointed in the national park near the Myanmar and Laos borders, percent of shareholders instead of 25 percent and rais- Kuwait an investment role in China. Lawmakers then Assembly while the expatriate workforce was reduced with their coach on Saturday. One of their mothers ing the duration for inviting for the meeting to 21 days briefly debated and approved budgets and final by 12 percent. raised the alarm when her son did not return from football training that evening.— AFP Saudi intercepts missiles Saudi stun Egypt in World Cup farewell Egypt’s El Hadary RIYADH: Saudi Arabia said on Sunday it had inter- cepted two missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthi becomes oldest militia over the capital Riyadh, as a Saudi-led coali- tion moved to wrest control of Yemen’s main port player in WCup city from the Iran-aligned group. At least six loud blasts were heard and bright flashes were seen in VOLGOGRAD: Egypt goal- the sky over the Saudi capital, a Reuters witness keeper Essam El Hadary said. Shrapnel was spotted on a street in the diplo- became the oldest player ever matic quarter where most embassies are located to appear at a World Cup and many foreigners live, but there was no serious after the 45-year-old was damage. “Saudi Royal Air Defense Forces intercept- named in the team to face ed and destroyed the missiles. Some of the debris of Saudi Arabia in Volgograd the intercepted missiles landed on residential areas, yesterday. Egypt tweeted thankfully without causing any casualties,” coalition their team line-up including spokesman Colonel Turki Al-Malki said in a state- El Hadary, who smashed the ment. Houthi-run Al-Masirah television said Burkan record set by Colombia goal- Egypt’s goalkeeper missiles were fired at the Saudi defense ministry keeper Faryd Mondragon, Essam El Hadary and other targets. — Reuters who was aged 43 years and three days when he played against Japan in Brazil in 2014. 8 Hezbollah fighters killed VOLGOGRAD: Saudi players celebrate their winning goal during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group A football match El Hadary, who is 45 years and 161 days old and between Saudi Arabia and Egypt at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd yesterday. —AFP (See page 27) nicknamed ‘High Dam’, made his debut for Egypt in 1996 - a year before his Egyptian squad mate RIYADH: The Saudi-led coalition battling rebels in Ramadan Sobhy was born. Both teams have only Yemen yesterday said its forces killed eight members friends and family. Police say the message was fake. pride to play for, having both been eliminated from of Lebanon’s Shiite militant group Hezbollah in north- When a text can Police officers who joined several local WhatsApp Group A, with Russia and Uruguay already guaran- ern Yemen, near the Saudi border. “The coalition groups, found three men circulating the message and teed last-16 berths. killed 41 terrorist elements in Maran and destroyed they were arrested, said Jayadevan A, the police chief Essam El Hadary, the oldest player ever to appear at their vehicles and equipment.