President Erdoğan tops list of major electoral issues
1) The 'non-partisan president'
More than the ruling party leader and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu (L), it is President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (R), who was supposed to be non-partisan according to the Constitution, who is slamming the election promises of the opposition parties, while also mocking and humiliating them.
Despite strong criticism from the opposition, Erdoğan continued to hold public rallies and urged voters to vote for the sake of Turkey’s future.
The Supreme Election Board (YSK) rejected appeals about Erdoğan's intervention, but
two of its members, as well as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) highlighted concerns over Erdoğan’s “active role in the campaign.” (Click here to read more)
2) The war on free speech
Journalist Can Dündar (R) and former Miss Turkey Merve Büyüksaraç (L) were among people who testified in defamation lawsuits filed by Turkish President. Erdoğan vowed that Dündar would pay a "heavy price" over a news story and his lawyer asked him to be jailed for life.
3) It's the economy, smarty!
The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has pledged to raise the minimum wage, hand out bonuses to pensioners and build an entirely new city named “Center Turkey" to boost employment and exports.
4) ‘Whoever wins Turkey's election must face Kurdish reality’
This Feb 28 photo shows HDP MP Sırr Süreyya Önder (R) speaking next to Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Yalçın Akdoğan (L) during a meeting at the Dolmabahçe office of the prime ministry in Istanbul. AFP Photo
5) Will Turkey's foreign policy change?
Khaled Mashaal, the head of Hamas’ political bureau, attended the events organized by Turkey's ruling AKP. AP Photo