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ISTANBUL (AP) – Turkish politicians staged final rallies in the closing hours of their election campaign on Saturday, on the eve of pivotal presidential and parliamentary elections that could significantly shape the NATO member’s future.
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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, facing the toughest challenge of all in his two decades in power, was speaking at neighborhood rallies in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city.
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His rival, Kemal Kilicdaroglu of the centre-left, pro-secular Republican People’s Party (CHP), the joint candidate of six opposition parties, held his final rally in the capital, Ankara, on Friday under heavy rain.
On Friday, Erdogan dismissed speculation that he would not cede power if he lost by calling the question “very ridiculous”. In an interview with dozens of Turkish broadcasters, Erdogan said he came to power through democracy and will work in line with the democratic process.
“If our nation decides to make such a different decision, we will do exactly what democracy requires and there is nothing else to do,” he said.
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Erdogan said on Saturday he views the election as a “celebration of democracy for the future of our country” and broadcast videos to undermine his opponent as unable to lead Turkey.
The opposition campaign has been continued by popular Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who held recent rallies in the city calling for people to vote for Kilicdaroglu.
On Friday, Kilicdaroglu asked the tens of thousands who gathered to hear his final speech to go vote on Sunday to “change Turkey’s destiny.” He said he was ready to bring democracy to Turkey, a major criticism of Erdogan who has cracked down on dissent in recent years.
“We will show the whole world that our beautiful country is a country that can achieve democracy through democratic means,” he said. Although Kilicdaroglu and his party have lost all the past presidential and parliamentary elections since he took over the party presidency in 2010, polls show that he is slightly ahead of Erdogan.
Voter turnout in Turkey is traditionally strong, demonstrating the continued belief in this type of civic engagement in a country where freedom of expression and assembly has been suppressed.
If no presidential candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, a run-off election will be held on May 28.
Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Council said it had decided that votes cast for another candidate, Muharrem Ince, who withdrew from the race this week, would be counted as valid and that his withdrawal would not be considered until a possible second round.