Campaign promises made in last day before elections

ISTANBUL — Turkey was awash in promises Saturday as politicians pressed to get voters’ attention in the remaining hours before a ban began ahead of today’s presidential and parliamentary elections.

Speaking at five rallies here, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged citizens to vote and listed the hospitals and transportation facilities built during his time in office as proof of his leadership.

“The presidency requires experience,” said the man who has led Turkey since 2003 as prime minister and since 2014 as the country’s first directly elected president.

Erdogan, 64, called the elec- tions more than a year ahead of schedule in a bid to usher in an executive presidency with sweeping powers.

He said the new system will bring stability and prosperity to Turkey, but critics warn it could lead to a one-man rule amid signs of an unsound economy.

Despite a short campaign season, uneven media coverage and government resources that favor Erdogan, his competitors for the presidency and in parliament have launched a serious bid to unseat him.

More than 59 million Turks, including some 3 million living abroad, are eligible to vote today.

Six candidates are running for president and eight parties have fielded candidates for 600 parliamentary seats. Five of those parties will also run as part of two competing electoral alliances: The People Alliance by Erdogan’s ruling party and a nationalist party vs. the Nation Alliance by the leading secular opposition, a nascent centerright party and an Islamicleaning party.

Erdogan’s main opponent, Muharrem Ince, drew thousands of supporters to a rally Saturday. Combative, Ince said “Erdogan you are going!” and called him a “fascist.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeks to stay in power in Turkey as the nation goes to the polls today.