Campaigning in Turkey’s pivotal elections nearing end

On Saturday, Turkish lawmakers held final rallies before crucial presidential and parliamentary elections that might influence the NATO member’s future.

In Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke at neighborhood gatherings.

On Friday, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the united candidate of six opposition parties, held his final rally in Ankara under pouring rain.

Erdogan called the idea “very ridiculous” on Friday. Erdogan told 12 Turkish channels he came to office democratically and will act democratically.

“If our nation makes such a different decision, we will do exactly what’s required by democracy and there’s nothing else to do,” he said.

Erdogan called the elections a “democracy celebration for our country’s future” on Saturday and aired videos to cast his opponent as unfit to rule Turkey.

Istanbul’s popular mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, held last rallies to support Kilicdaroglu.

Kilicdaroglu urged tens of thousands attending his final speech on Friday to vote on Sunday to “change Turkey’s destiny.” He stated he would reintroduce democracy to Turkey, a big critique of Erdogan’s recent crackdown on opposition.

“We will show the world that our beautiful country can bring democracy through democratic means,” he declared. Kilicdaroglu and his party have lost all presidential and legislative elections since he became party leader in 2010, yet surveys show he leads Erdogan.

In a country where freedom of expression and assembly are limited, Turkey has high voter turnout.

A May 28 runoff will occur if no presidential candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.

Turkey’s Supreme Electoral Board said it will count Muharrem Ince’s votes, who withdrew this week, until a second round.