Polling booths in Turkey opened at 8 o’clock Sunday morning, local time, in what is expected to be the closest parliamentary election for more than a decade.

Some of the country’s 54 million voters will decide if the ruling Justice and Development (AK) party will maintain a majority it has enjoyed for the last 13 years.

The AK party, formerly led by President Erdogan, is seeking a two thirds majority of the 550 seats on offer.

If it succeeds it intends to change the constitution to replace the parliamentary system with a US style presidential model that will give Erdogan considerably more powers.

While constitutionally required to stay above party politics, Erdogan has joined Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in attacking opposition parties.

The two have portrayed the election as a choice between a “new Turkey” or a return to a history marked by short-lived coalition governments, economic instability and military coups.

The main opposition comes from the Republican People’s