Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the elections a month earlier – on May 14 instead of June 18.
The head of Turkey explained his decision by the fact that during this period, neither exams in educational institutions, nor religious holidays, nor the tourist season can prevent the will of citizens from expressing their will. Now the decision must be approved by the election commission, and the election campaign will officially start.
As it became known last week, Kemal Kilicdaroglu will become Erdogan’s main rival in the presidential elections, single candidate from the opposition alliance. Kılıçdaroğlu is the leader of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party. Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavash are also named among the candidates.
Erdogan has been president since 2014, but last year announced his intention to run for another term.
This time the elections for the ruling party will be held in particularly difficult conditions. For inglorious failures in the organization of rescue operations and assistance after earthquakes with tens of thousands of human casualties, the authorities were severely criticized.
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