Ökkeş Namlı, mayor of the Düziçi Municipality in Osmaniye province, has threatened to fire municipal workers if they vote “no” in a referendum on Sunday  on a switch to an executive presidency, the haberdar news website reported on Thursday.

Speaking in the presence of ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies, AKP member Namlı said: “If they eat the bread of the AKP and do not vote [‘yes’], may they get no benefit from it. I am talking before the district head of the party and its deputies. While your children are there [jobless], I am vile if I keep them [those who vote ‘no’ in the referendum] there [as municipal workers].”

Namlı said those people who work for the municipality and vote “no” are vile and dishonest as well.

In a similar development, a district governor in the Tutak district of the eastern province of Ağrı has threatened to cut off agricultural subsidies granted to residents if their villages vote against a constitutional reform package that will be put to a public vote this Sunday.

The ruling AKP, backed by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), pushed through the legislation that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says will bring the strong leadership needed to prevent a return of the fragile coalition governments of the past.

The Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party’s (HDP) fear the reform will fuel authoritarianism.

The reform will enable Erdoğan to appoint and dismiss government ministers, take back the leadership of the ruling party and govern until 2029.

The plans foresee presidential and general elections in 2019, with a maximum of two five-year terms.

A district governor in the Tutak district of the eastern province of Ağrı has threatened to cut off agricultural subsidies granted to the residents if their villages vote against a constitutional reform package that will be put to a public vote this Sunday, according to pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Dirayet Taşdemir.

Turkey will vote on a constitutional reform package in the referendum which will introduce an executive presidency if approved. The reforms will greatly increase President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s powers while weakening Parliament.

Taşdemir, who submitted a parliamentary question meant for Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, asked him about the claims raised by the villagers of the Tutak district.

According to the villagers, Tutak district governor Erkan İsa blocked the payment of agricultural subsidies to them, and if a “yes” vote does not emerge from the ballot box in those villages, the agricultural subsidies will be completely cut off.

Taşdemir asked Yıldırım whether an investigation has been launched into the claims.