Turkey Election Preview: Turkey braces for presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday

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03:55

Turkish voters are heading to the polls on Sunday. Turn-out is expected to be high, as there's a lot at stake. The presidential election is Recep Tayyip Erdogan's biggest challenge in 15 years and has the country holding its breath. CGTN's Michal Bardavid reports.

There's an atmosphere of anticipation in Turkey – as the country braces for presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday. Half the country is worried its leader Tayyip Erdogan may not win, while the other half is ultra-excited for that same reason.

Erdogan is facing his biggest challenge yet as opposition parties have all nominated their own candidates. His biggest rival is Muharrem Ince, the Republican People's Party candidate. Ince has re-energized the main opposition with his passionate speeches and reaching out to conservatives, seculars and Kurds, aiming to unite voters of different backgrounds.

Another strong contender, and the only woman candidate is Meral Aksener, representing the breakaway nationalist IYI "Good" Party. Also in the race is Selahattin Demirtas running a campaign for the Kurdish HDP from prison – as he faces terror charges.

Erdogan and his opponents disagree on many issues – from the economy to foreign policy. The opposition insists it's time to put an end to one-man rule, while Erdogan is promising to push forward with a transition to a presidential system. So an Erdogan win or lose could completely change the country's course.

If no one candidate gains over 50% of the votes, there will be a run-off election.

MICHAL BARDAVID ISTANBUL "Though polling companies have made their predictions with most stating that Turkey will likely have run–off presidential elections, many have also pointed out that Turkish citizens' attitudes towards pollsters have also changed due to anxieties."

MURAT GEZICI, CHAIRMAN GEZICI POLLING GROUP "People are afraid and running away. We've observed that they are unwilling to answer polls because they are scared of being thrown into prison by the government or of losing their jobs."

Nevertheless, the chairman of one of Turkey's main polling companies says they have succeeded in getting sufficient data for predictions.

MURAT GEZICI, CHAIRMAN GEZICI POLLING GROUP "Those who get the highest votes – Tayyip Erdogan and Muharrem Ince face a run-off election, so there will be a second round on July 8th. In the second round, it looks like Ince has a higher chance than Erdogan – at about 52-53 percent of being chosen as president, we might see Ince as Turkey's next president."

The defining issue is likely going to be the economy. The Turkish Lira has tumbled since the beginning of the year about 20 percent in value against the U.S. dollar.

ATILLA YESILADA ECONOMIST "In a poll carried out by Metropol in the name of Center for American Progress, 33% of AK Party voters and 60% of general voters are uncomfortable with the governments' inflation and currency policies. I believe the AK Party and Erdogan will not be rewarded but rather punished for the economic policies they've been following."

Parliamentary elections will also be held. Erdogan's decision to collaborate with the Nationalist Movement Party to form the "People's Alliance" may backfire as four opposition parties created a strong coalition the "Democracy Alliance in return". And if the Kurdish HDP Party manages to pass the 10% threshold, that would mean that AK Party may lose its grip on the newly formed parliament.

With voter turnout expected to be at around ninety percent, this historic election could have a crucial impact on Turkey's future. Michal Bardavid, CGTN, Istanbul.