Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sought to project confidence Sunday in a close election that could end his two-decade hold on power in the predominantly Muslim country that comprises NATO’s second-largest military force.
“My hope to God is that after the counting concludes this evening, the outcome is good for the future of our country, for Turkish democracy,” Mr. Erdogan told supporters after casting his vote in Istanbul.
Analysts said Mr. Erdogan might be unseated by leading opposition candidate Kemal Kilcdaroglu, who has run on a promise to return Turkey to a more democratic path following years of autocratic moves by the president’s ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP. Crowds mobbed polling stations where Mr. Erdogan and Mr. Kilicdaroglu cast their ballots Sunday, with the opposition leader’s supporters chanting “President Kilicdaroglu!”
His comments reflected years of criticism of Mr. Erdogan. Critics have long said the president has consolidated power in an authoritarian fashion over the past decade, cracked down on media freedom and embraced a brand of Islamist nationalism that has threatened secular democracy in Turkey.
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