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In Pictures: Turkey votes in presidential election

Turkish voters are casting their ballots in the country’s first directly-elected presidential vote.

Turks are heading to the polls to elect a new president in a vote that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to win.
By Osman Kaytazoglu
Published On 10 Aug 2014

Istanbul, Turkey – Turks headed to the polls on Sunday in Turkey’s first-ever presidential election by popular vote.

About 53 million people were eligible to cast their ballots, as early polls showed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan as the frontrunner.

Erdogan’s main opponent, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, was backed by the country’s two major opposition parties, the Republican Peoples’ Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Selahattin Demirtas, a senior figure among Turkey’s Kurdish minority, was the third option for president. Demirtas is supported by the People’s Democracy Party (HDP), a pro-Kurdish party. 

A survey conducted by Turkish pollster A&G put Erdogan at 55.1 percent, with Ihsanoglu predicted to earn 33 percent and Demirtas 11.6 percent.

Erdogan’s campaign focused strongly on infrastructure projects, foreign policy, economic reforms, and a new constitution featuring a presidential system, while Ihsanoglu has stressed “unity” and “neutrality”. Demirtas, meanwhile, has come out strongly on a range of social issues, from LGBT rights to environmental conservation.

A candidate must receive more than 50 percent support in the first round to be elected, or a runoff vote will be held on August 24.

For the first time in Turkey(***)s history, citizens will elect their president by a popular vote, in line with a constitutional amendment adopted in 2007.
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(***)I have no expectations actually… I have only one dream [that I want] to be come true. So far, Turkey has been under the influence of foreign powers. I tried to vote to say stop this,(***) said Cenk A., 35, a psychologist. 
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Erdogan(***)s main opponent, is a conservative academic and diplomat who used to lead the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
During his campaign, Erdogan said he would work towards a new constitution featuring a presidential system, and promised an unconventional presidency. 
Nearly 53 million voters out of Turkey(***)s population of 76 million are eligible to cast their ballots.
(***)We want to live in peaceful country. We want living conditions to improve. A new presidency will bring much more economic power to Turkey,(***) said Osman Gul, 70, a pensioner.
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Erdogan is looking to extend his more than 10 years in power.
(***)I want peace. I don(***)t want bloodshed anymore. We want a country where mothers and fathers won(***)t cry anymore. Hopefully our prime minister will be the president. God willing, both the Kurdish and Turkish side will come to a solution,(***) said Havva Eroglu, 43, a housewife.
(***)I voted for democracy to prevail. I want a happy and peaceful nation. I hope this ballot box will bring about an atmosphere where there is no discrimination based on religion... or ethnicity,(***) said Kadir Subasi, 20.
(***)The deputy prime minister suggested that women should not laugh in public right before the elections. Prime Minisiter Erdogan insulting a female journalist is not a good sign. We are heading to embracing an authoritarian regime. I casted my vote, but I am hopeless. As a women, women rights issues are very perturbative,(***) said Nilay Orman, 43, a teacher.
(***)I don(***)t think that this election will bring any change to the country. It is quite clear. Our prime minister is very chastising… We want a cheerful president,(***) said Asli Deniz, 31, a musician.