'Emperor' Erdogan needs cutting down to size

A British newspaper on Saturday said it is necessary to curb Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ahead of the general elections slated for Sunday.

Turkey's president hopes to extend his power in tomorrow’s general election. For the West’s sake, let's hope he doesn't, The Times said.

Erdogan often compared to an Ottoman sultan, is suing an opposition leader for allegedly suggesting that he has gold-plated lavatory seats in his 1,115-room palace, the paper added.

"That’s what happens when you have been too long in power," The Times said. "All criticism becomes personal, an act of ingratitude."

Given Erdogan's brittleness then, his vanity and gamesmanship, it is difficult to see how tomorrow's general election is going to pan out, according to the paper.

The Times said that Erdogan's hopes of Sunday elections are clear, as his party hopes to get sufficient majority in the parliament to amend the constitution to convert Turkey to a presidential system rather than the current parliamentary one.

Erdogan needs cutting down to size, the paper said.