State-run Anadolu Agency reported a 51.4% victory for Erdogan's "Yes" campaign - with 99.8% of the ballots counted - although the Turkish Election Commission isn't expected to release the official results for up to another 10 days.
The new constitution states that the next presidential and parliamentary elections are to be held simultaneously on November 3, 2019. The administration of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has claimed victory.
Addressing thousands of flag-waving supporters on tonight, prime minister Binali Yildirim said the "unofficial" final result is "yes'" for the constitutional referendum.
He also took a dig at worldwide critics.
KINGSLEY: They were very conscious because and the reason why President Erdogan and his allies stoked so many battles in particular with European and European politicians, he called the Europeans Nazis, in particular in Holland and Germany, the reason why he did all that was to create the illusion of a Turkey under siege, and had the effect of rallying nationalist voters to his cause. The cause, ostensibly, was a bar on Turkish officials campaigning for votes among Turkish expatriates in Europe.
"We want other countries and organizations to show respect to the decision of our people. We have already been on our way, now we will gear it up [with the new system]", he said.
He said there was "only one way to end the discussions about the vote's legitimacy and to put the people at ease, and that is for the Supreme Electoral Board to cancel the vote".
"The High Electoral Board has changed the rules after the voting started".
"Such changes should be opportunities that strengthen the social contract", Han says.
"Whether the official announcement is Yes or No, we will object to 2/3 of ballots".
Given the contested outcome, Fadi Hakura, Turkey specialist at the London-based think-tank Chatham House, described Erdogan's win as a "pyrrhic victory that comes at a huge political cost".
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The deputy head of Turkey's main secularist opposition called on Monday for the annulment of a referendum on boosting the powers of the president and said it would take its challenge to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary.
Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said the referendum was bound to complicate further cooperation between Ankara and the EU.
"At the moment, this is a dubious vote", he said.
Mr Erdogan could adopt a more reconciliatory attitude on the country's problem with Kurdish militants, even to the point of reopening dialogue. Amendments were supported by 24.9 million while 23.6 million voted against them.
"Erdogan dominated the national media. He secured a thin majority of 1 percent", Hakura said. With renewed fighting in the southeastern predominantly Kurdish areas, it is unclear whether Erdogan still would have much support from the Kurdish community.
Authorities said the decision to accept unstamped ballots was legitimate because it was taken before voting began. While thousands of flag-waving supporters cheered the referendum's approval, political opponents immediately questioned the legitimacy of the balloting and said they meant to challenge a sizeable share of the count. It would also revise presidential term limits, allowing Erdogan to remain in office until 2029.
In Istanbul, hundreds of demonstrators opposed to the amendments marched in a central neighborhood late Sunday, clanging pots and pans.
- Frederike Geerdink (@fgeerdink) April 16, 2017Threats, oppression, imprisonment, censorship, defamation - and yet half of the people of Turkey voted #Hayir.
Erdogan himself survived a failed coup attempt last July, responding with a crackdown that has seen 47,000 people detained and 120,000 sacked or suspended from their jobs.
The clampdown, which led to the arrests of 47,155 government critics, academics, journalists, military officials and civil servants, has drawn global condemnation.
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