Could Erdogan lose? Shock pullout boosts Turkey opposition candidate Could an eleventh-hour surprise swing Sunday's elections in Turkey? After two decades in power, it was always going to be close as Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces a mostly-united opposition. Still, the charismatic leader of the Islamist-rooted AK Party controls all the levers of power and commands a loyal following. Now, three days out, comes the shock withdrawal of third-party candidate Muharrem Ince. With a niche following among younger voters, we ask if it's a game changer. Could the opposition score a first-round knockout against the incumbent?