Democracy Versus More Of Erdogan: Turkey To Decide Its Fate In Historic Referendum 

What Turkish citizens do today at the referendum on the presidential system will decide not just the nation’s systemic fate but also rewrite its equations with the European Union. The referendum is on a set of amendments which would abolish the office of the prime minister and would accord wide-ranging powers to the President. The current president of Turkey is Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Voting in favour of the amendments is being touted as the most radical change to the political system of the country in recent times, as it will replace Turkey’s parliamentary democracy with an all-powerful presidency. Voting against them is being publicised by the ruling party and President Tayyip Erdogan as “support for terrorism”.

The secular main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, has in turn accused Erdogan of seeking a "one-man regime", and said the proposed changes would put the country in danger.

Erdogan and the ruling AK Party, led by Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, as reports Tyler Durden of Zero Hedge, have enjoyed a disproportionate share of media coverage in the buildup to the vote, overshadowing CHP and pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP).

While recent polls suggest a pick-up in momentum for “yes”, they remain close, and the large share of “undecided” voters is adding to the uncertainty. Around 55 million people are eligible to vote. The voting will take place at 167,140 polling stations across the country, the outcomes of which will not just redefine the country’s political fabric but also shape its strained relations with the European Union (EU).

The NATO member state has curbed the flow of migrants form Syria and Iraq into the bloc but Erdogan says he may review the deal after the vote. Relations between Turkey and Europe hit a low during the referendum campaign when EU countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, barred Turkish ministers from holding rallies in support of the changes. Erdogan called the moves "Nazi acts" and said Turkey could reconsider ties with the European Union after many years of seeking EU membership.

On the eve of the vote, Erdogan held four separate rallies in Istanbul, urging supporters to turn out in large numbers. "April 16 will be a turning point for Turkey's political history... Every vote you cast tomorrow will be a cornerstone of our revival," he is quoted as telling a crowd of flag-waving supporters.