Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been addressing rallies across Turkey ahead of the referendum Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has criticised the tactics of his political opponents ahead of a referendum on constitutional reform.
Speaking to the BBC ahead of Sunday’s vote, Mr Erdogan accused them of using “disinformation and black propaganda”.
The proposed reforms include controversial changes to Turkey’s judiciary.
Opposition parties say the changes will give the government more control over the appointment of senior judges.
The present constitution was introduced in 1982 by the military.
The BBC’s Jonathan Head in Istanbul says a “no” vote or only a marginal win would be seen as a blow to Mr Erdogan, who has dominated Turkish politics for the past eight years following two decisive election victories.
Opinion polls suggest the vote will be close.
Mr Erdogan has been travelling around Turkey for the past three weeks, trying to drum up support for his reforms.
But he told the BBC that the main opposition parties were deceiving voters.
“At the moment there is a flood of disinformation and black propaganda,” he said.
“They claim these reforms are my personal project or my party’s – that claim is unfounded.”
Mr Erdogan argues that the reforms will make the military-drafted constitution more democratic.
However the opposition says the proposed changes to the top levels of the judiciary, far from making it more accountable, will give the government more control over the Constitutional Court and over the selection of senior judges.
This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.