Erdogan Unwavering: Decision to Hold Elections on May 14 Ratified

The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has officially ratified the decision to hold the presidential and parliamentary elections one month earlier, on May 14 instead of June 18. After signing the decree, Erdogan stated, "Our people will choose their president and parliament on May 14."

On the eve of this announcement, a coalition of six opposition parties nominated the leader of the Republican People's Party, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, as their presidential candidate. The contest is expected to be very tight and unpredictable, as both Erdogan and Kılıçdaroğlu have almost equal approval ratings.