Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan discussed at a meeting with leading officials of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) the date for the parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled to take place this year, the Turkish news publication Haberler reported today. 

According to the publication, at the meeting held a few days ago, it was decided that the elections will be held on May 14, 2023, i.e.

about a month and a half ahead of schedule. 

The publication claims that the May 14 date was previously agreed with Devlet Bahceli, Erdogan's partner in the Republican Alliance, with whom the head of state spoke on December 29 at Beştepe presidential palace.

After the meeting, Erdogan called a meeting of the responsible functionaries of his party.

The main topic was discussion of the date for the elections.

It was decided that they would be scheduled for May 14, a little more than a month from the previously announced tentative date of June 18, when they should take place according to regulation.

If there is a second round of the presidential vote, it will take place two weeks after May 14, i.e.

at the end of the same month. 

According to unconfirmed information from the Turkish private television station NTV, in addition to the May 14 date for the first round of elections, the options of April 30 and May 7 were also discussed.  

The Turkish president did not rule out today the possibility of calling off the elections for an earlier date.

In response to a question about the mentioned possible dates for the elections, he said that "everything that is discussed in public opinion enters our agenda". 

This year's pilgrimage to Mecca, the so-called

hajj.

Several million Turkish citizens will go on the traditional pilgrimage at the end of May, and if the election is held on June 18, pilgrims who are part of Erdogan's electorate would miss out on voting.

In addition, university exams take place in June, which would prevent many young people from going to the polls.

About 7 million people will vote for the first time this year.

According to Turkish election law, elections scheduled two months before the scheduled date (June 18) are considered regular, not early.  

However, the opposition has already announced that it will not agree to early elections to be held after April 6, when the new electoral law comes into effect, which observers say will favor the Republican Alliance of Erdogan and Bahceli.

For this reason, Erdogan can use his constitutional right and "dissolve the parliament" and actually implement the new electoral law.

AKP deputy chairman Hamza Dag suggested such an option, as BTA reported two days ago.

At the end of February, the parliament will focus entirely on the election agenda, the information also notes.

Tomorrow (January 5 - b.a.) the leaders of six opposition political parties are expected to announce a timetable for their joint government programme.

However, the announcement of the opposition's presidential candidate will remain for a later date, "Jumhuriyet" reported.