Social media battle lines drawn on Turkish vote for Erdogan's sweeping powers

The Turkish President is gunning for support to clamp down on dissent in an April referendum

Published Mon, Jan 30, 2017 · 09:50 PM

    Ankara

    CAMPAIGNING has not officially started, but a string of video "selfies" by the likes of sports stars, actors and cabinet ministers has already launched a divisive debate on plans that would hand Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan sweeping new powers.

    His supporters see the move to replace Turkey's parliamentary democracy with an all-powerful presidency as a guarantee of stability at a time of turmoil. Opponents fear a lurch towards authoritarianism if an April referendum approves the change.