Istanbul: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday made a final push for votes in a referendum on expanding his powers, as the authorities said they had foiled a possible jihadist plot against the poll.
Opinion polls — usually treated with caution in Turkey — have predicted a tight outcome tomorrow despite the considerable advantages of the 'Yes' campaign in both airtime and campaign resources.
The referendum will take place under a state of emergency that has been in place since last summer's failed coup, which has seen some 47,000 arrested in the biggest crackdown in Turkey's history.
Analysts regard the referendum as a crossroads in the modern history of the country that will affect not just the shape of its political system but also its relations with the West.
"April 16 will be a historic turning point," Erdogan told a rally in Konya, the Anatolian city seen as the heartland of conservative supporters who have benefited from his rule.
The referendum is taking place after a bloody year of terror attacks in Turkey blamed on jihadists and Kurdish militants.
Adding to security concerns, police detained five suspected Islamic State militants in Istanbul accused of planning a "sensational" attack targeting the weekend referendum.
Authorities on Tuesday detained another 19 suspected IS supporters in the Aegean city of Izmir, accused of planning to sabotage the vote. In the latest issue of its Al Naba magazine, IS called for attacks on polling stations in Turkey.
If the new system is passed, it will abolish the office of prime minister, enabling the president to centralise all state bureaucracy under his control and also to appoint cabinet ministers.
Supporters see the new system as an essential modernisation step for Turkey to streamline government.
Erdogan in an earlier television interview expressed confidence the new presidential system would be approved, saying there were no longer undecided voters. "'Yes' has gone up considerably, while 'No' has gone down," he said.
A poll by the Konda group showed 'Yes' ahead at 51.5 percent but the Sonar group has projected a 'No' vote of 51.2 percent, and with other polling companies producing different figures the outcome remains uncertain.
