Turkey’s Islamist President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday attacked his main rival in next Sunday’s election, Social Democrat Kemal Kilicdaroglu, calling him a “drunkard” and “infidel” at the biggest rally of the week-long election campaign.

Recep ErdoganPhoto: Adem ALTAN / AFP / Profimedia

At a pre-election rally in Istanbul in front of hundreds of thousands of people, the Turkish leader, who has been in power for 20 years, accused the opposition of wanting to divide the Eurasian country, reports Agerpres.

“We will not allow Kilicdaroglu, who is with terrorist organizations, to divide this country,” Erdogan said in a speech broadcast live on Turkish television.

According to the Turkish leader, 1.7 million people would take part in this rally.

Addressing hundreds of thousands of supporters, Erdogan said that Kilicdaroglu can drink as much as he wants, people will not give the country to “drunkards”, calling opponents “infidels”.

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Erdogan, who recently had to take a break from the election campaign due to health problems, is known for his harsh rhetoric not only against the opposition, but also against minorities, including the LGBTQ community, DPA reports.

Kilicdaroglu promised during a rally in Istanbul on Saturday that if he wins, he will calm down and unite the country.

“I, together with my friends, will bring spring to this country, I will bring peace. Regardless of who they are, we will deal with the problems of everyone who lives in this country. We will never discriminate against anyone,” the opposition candidate assured.

“I will be the president of 85 million (people). I will serve 85 million. I will not make distinctions and I will accept them all,” concluded Kilicdaroglu, who is leading the polls a week before the presidential and parliamentary elections.

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Kemal Kilicdaroglu (Photo: Adem ALTAN / AFP / Profimedia)