Turkey's prime minister and his Islamic-rooted party are poised to win a third straight term in power Sunday.

Boosted by a booming economy and rising power on the world stage, Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, now hopes to gain a crucial two-thirds majority in parliament, which would allow it to change the constitution.

Mr. Erdogan's critics say his political goal is to create a more presidential-style government with him in control.

Some critics claim that Mr. Erdogan already is abusing his power, and say he is moving away from a secular state to a more conservative, Islamic form of government.

Opposition Republican People's Party candidate Oguz Kaan Salici says the government has become increasingly intolerant to criticism.

Polls open Sunday at 7 a.m. in the country's eastern provinces, and an hour later in the west.