ANKARA, Turkey (AP) – The Latest on Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections on Sunday (all times local):
10:25 a.m.
Turkey’s state-run news agency says authorities have arrested six people for allegedly insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of a campaign rally by his main opponent in Sunday’s elections.
A bicycle, left by a cyclist taking a break is seen in Ortakoy square backdropped the “July 15th Martyrs’ bridge, formerly known as Bosporus Bridge, over the Bosporus Strait, separating Europe and Asia, in Istanbul, Sunday, June 24, 2018. Turkish voters vote Sunday, June 24, in a historic double election for the presidency and parliament. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
The Anadolu Agency said the six were detained late Saturday days after videos posted on social media reportedly showed them shouting expletives against Erdogan. The news agency said they were later charged with “insulting state elders.”
The agency said police were searching for other suspects.
Insulting the president is a crime punishable by up to four years in prison. Erdogan has filed close to 2,000 lawsuits against people, including school children, for insulting him.
As a goodwill gesture, he dropped the cases following a failed military coup in 2016. But many more cases have been filed since then.
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9 a.m.
Turkey is holding held high-stakes presidential and parliamentary elections that could consolidate President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s hold on power or curtail his vast political ambitions.
Voters flocked to polling centers Sunday to cast ballots in an election that will complete Turkey’s transition to a new executive presidential system, a move approved in a controversial referendum last year.
Erdogan, 64, is seeking re-election for a new five-year term with hugely increased powers under the new system, which he insists will bring prosperity and stability to Turkey, especially after a failed coup attempt in 2016 that has left the country under a state of emergency since then. His ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, is hoping to retain its majority in parliament.
Still, Erdogan – who has been in power since 2003 – is facing a more robust and united opposition this time, one that has vowed to return Turkey to a parliamentary democracy with strong checks and balances and decried what it calls Erdogan’s “one-man rule.”
A polling station worker holds a ballot for Turkey’s presidential election at a polling station in the mainly-Kurdish city of Diyarbakir, southeastern Turkey, Sunday, June 24, 2018. Turkish voters are voting Sunday in a historic double election for the presidency and parliament.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
Supporters wave during an election rally of Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, in Istanbul, Saturday, June 23, 2018. Turkish voters will vote Sunday, June 24, in a historic double election for the presidency and parliament. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Supporters of Muharrem Ince, presidential candidate of Turkey’s main opposition Republic People’s Party, attend an election rally in Istanbul, Saturday, June 23, 2018. Turkish voters will vote Sunday, June 24, in a historic double election for the presidency and parliament. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Muharrem Ince, presidential candidate of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party, delivers a speech during an election rally in Istanbul, Saturday, June 23, 2018. Turkish voters will vote Sunday, June 24, in a historic double election for the presidency and parliament. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
A ship sails under the”July 15th Martyrs’ bridge, formerly known as Bosporus Bridge, over the Bosporus Strait, separating Europe and Asia, in the foreground, in Istanbul, Sunday, June 24, 2018. Turkish voters are voting Sunday in a historic double election for the presidency and parliament. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
A worker sweeps the ground at a viewpoint overlooking the”July 15th Martyrs’ bridge, formerly known as Bosporus Bridge, over the Bosporus Strait, separating Europe and Asia, in the foreground, in Istanbul, Sunday, June 24, 2018. Turkish voters are voting Sunday in a historic double election for the presidency and parliament. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
A woman casts her vote in Turkey’s elections at a polling station in Ankara, Turkey, Sunday, June 24, 2018. Turkish voters are voting Sunday in a historic double election for the presidency and parliament. (AP Photo/Ali Unal)
People queue to vote in Turkey’s elections at a polling station in Ankara, Turkey, Sunday, June 24, 2018. Turkish voters are voting Sunday in a historic double election for the presidency and parliament. (AP Photo/Ali Unal)
A policeleam, left, helps an elderly man leaving a polling station in Ankara, Turkey, Sunday, June 24, 2018. Turkish voters are voting Sunday in a historic double election for the presidency and parliament. (AP Photo/Ali Unal)
A woman casts her ballot for Turkey’s elections at a polling station in the mainly-Kurdish city of Diyarbakir, southeastern Turkey, Sunday, June 24, 2018. Turkish voters are voting Sunday in a historic double election for the presidency and parliament.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
A polling station worker stamps ballots for Turkey’s presidential election at a polling station in the mainly-Kurdish city of Diyarbakir, southeastern Turkey, Sunday, June 24, 2018. Turkish voters are voting Sunday in a historic double election for the presidency and parliament.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
People wait to vote in Turkey’s elections at a polling station in the mainly-Kurdish city of Diyarbakir, southeastern Turkey, Sunday, June 24, 2018. Turkish voters are voting Sunday in a historic double election for the presidency and parliament.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
People wait their turn to vote in Turkey’s elections at a polling station in the mainly-Kurdish city of Diyarbakir, southeastern Turkey, Sunday, June 24, 2018. Turkish voters are voting Sunday in a historic double election for the presidency and parliament.(AP Photo/Emre Tazegul)
A woman seals her ballot envelope for Turkey’s elections in Yalova, northwestern Turkey, Sunday, June 24, 2018. Turkish voters are voting Sunday in a historic double election for the presidency and parliament. (AP Photo/Emre Oktay)
A man cast his ballot for Turkey’s elections in Yalova, northwestern Turkey, Sunday, June 24, 2018. Turkish voters are voting Sunday in a historic double election for the presidency and parliament. (AP Photo/Emre Oktay)
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