The AKP wants to redraw Turkey’s military-drafted constitution Polls open soon in Turkey with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) seeking a third term in office.
After eight years in power, the AKP hopes for two-thirds of the seats in parliament to make promised amendments to the constitution.
The main challenger is the secular Republican People’s Party (CHP).
It is fielding a large number of younger candidates in an attempt to improve its appeal.
The conservative AKP, which has Islamist roots, has presided over strong economic growth and a more assertive foreign policy during its eight years in power.
It has also seen unemployment fall – down to 11.5% in March from 14.4% in the same period last year.
The AKP has put its impressive economic record at the centre of its campaign, promising an ambitious programme of new construction if elected.
Projects include a canal from the Black Sea to the Aegean, a new city outside Istanbul and new bridges, airports and hospitals.
The BBC’s Jonathan Head in Istanbul says the party is relying heavily on the charisma of Mr Erdogan, who has proved a vote-winner in the past.
However he is facing a strong challenge from the CHP, which has not been in government for more than 30 years.
Under its new leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the party has ditched its image as a supporter of state and military intervention in politics, and is presenting itself as a champion of European social democratic values.
Campaigning has been intense and at times bad-tempered with party leaders trading insults.
Mr Erdogan has promised to draw up a new constitution if re-elected to replace the current military-drafted one.
If he can win a two-thirds majority in parliament he will be able to do this without consulting the opposition or the public – giving him a decisive influence over the future direction of Turkish democracy.
Turkey is a member of Nato and is a candidate for membership of the European Union.
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