Timeline: 11 key developments in Turkey under Erdogan
Turkey on Sunday will vote in a tightly-contested referendum on expanding the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that will shape its political system for the next generation.
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The clock is ticking down to Turkey's landmark referendum expanding President Erdogan's powers [Getty]
Turkey prepares for a tightly-contested referendum vote on Sunday to expand the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that will shape its political system for the next generation.
Critics fear victory in the referendum on a new constitution creating an executive presidency would pave the way for one-man rule and allow Erdogan to tear up the secular principles established by Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Critics fear victory in the referendum on a new constitution creating an executive presidency would pave the way for one-man rule and allow Erdogan to tear up the secular principles established by Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
But supporters say that the system – which would eliminate the post of prime minister – is needed to eliminate the political crises that marred the 1980s and 1990s before the rise of Erdogan's Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP).
The vote is also shadowed by the failed military coup against Erdogan in July that was rapidly followed by a state of emergency that remains in place and has seen tens of thousands of people arrested.
Explore our interactive timeline to learn more about the key dates since Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power:
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