On Sunday, Turks streamed to the polls to vote in a referendum on constitutional amendments which, if passed, would fundamentally alter Turkey’s system of government and essentially institute a dictatorship. In practice, there would be no separation of powers, with the president controlling the judiciary and able to absent himself and his cabinet from any oversight on the part of the legislature.

Initially, the Turkish press reported a lopsided victory in favor of the new government but, as the hours passed, the “Yes” margin of victory narrowed. Even though the official result has yet been announced, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared victory.