Ankara, January 23 (BNA): Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey will hold elections on May 14, a month earlier than scheduled, which constitutes a severe test of his leadership after two decades in power.
The president’s office released a video on Sunday of Erdogan announcing the date during a meeting with young voters in the northwestern province of Bursa late on Saturday.
“I am thankful to God that we will walk hand in hand with you, our youth, for the first time, in the elections that will take place on May 14,” Erdogan told the group.
Opinion polls show that the parliamentary and presidential elections will be close and will be the biggest test for Erdogan in his two decades of rule in the reins of the regional military power, NATO member and a major emerging market economy, Reuters reported.
Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections were scheduled to take place on June 18, but President Erdogan earlier indicated that the vote could be brought forward.
An official of his party, the Justice and Development Party, had earlier said that the elections in June would coincide with the summer holiday season when people would travel.