Turks vote for president as Erdogan envisages 'new Turkey'

Turks finish voting in their country's presidential election with Tayyip Erdogan poised to win and fulfill his dream of what he calls a "new Turkey", and what his opponents say will be an increasingly authoritarian nation. Vanessa Johnston reports.

Published

7 months ago

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World

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Europe, World, Politics & Government

People

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Vanessa Johnston

Places

Turkey

Transcript

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan casts his vote in the country's first presidential election. Erdogan is poised to win and fulfill his dream of what he calls a "new Turkey". (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH PRIME MINISTER, TAYYIP ERDOGAN, SAYING: "It has been an enthusiastic and exciting campaign. I believe that people had the opportunity to assess everything during this period because Turkey is giving an important decision to improve its democracy in every field." But Erdogan's opponents say he would transform Turkey into an increasingly authoritarian nation. With his roots in political Islam and intolerance of dissent, some fear Erdogan would lead the country further away from the secular ideals of its founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Opinion polls put Erdogan's support at 55-56 percent. If there is no outright winner from Sunday's poll, a second round will be held on August 24.