President Tayyip Erdoğan announced early elections in Turkey on June 24, 2018. Erdoğan says the legal process for early elections, including preparations by Supreme Electoral Council, to begin immediately.
Erdoğan made this announcement after he met with his ally, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli at the presidential palace.
The meeting, came after Bahçeli made a call on Tuesday for early elections in Turkey.
Speaking at his party's parliamentary group in the capital Ankara, Bahceli had said: "It should be known that the MHP wants early elections after the [constitutional] adjustment laws are enacted. Electing the president on Aug. 26...is the most rational and reasonable way forward."
On April 16, 2017, Turkey held a referendum during which the majority of voters decided in favour of an 18-article bill to switch from a parliamentary to a presidential system.
Turkey's parliamentary and presidential elections are currently scheduled to take place in November 2019. (AA)
Bülent Falakaoğlu
Hakkı Özdal
