Ruling party plans to hold elections on May 14 - report

The ruling AKP (Justice and Development Party) board made an assessment about bringing forward the date of presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey in its latest meeting and a possible date was May 14, BBC Turkish reported.

The Justice and Development Party (AKP) took action to bring forward the presidential and parliamentary elections that were scheduled for June 18.

At the party’s latest board meeting, party seniors discussed alternative scenarios for holding the elections between April 9 - June 1.

Although no final decision was taken in the meeting the prevailing opinion was that the elections would be held on May 14, BBC Turkish said,

It has been speculated for a long time that the ruling bloc seeked to bring forward the elections because the scheduled date coincides with a big examination across the country for university admissions. And if a second round of elections are held, this date also coincides with Eid al Adha.

Turkish media also reported that President Erdogoan and MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) leader Devlet Bahceli also agreed to bring the elections forward during a meeting that was held a few days before the New Year,

Bahceli always said that the elections would be held "on time" until his last meeting with Erdogan.

But in a party meeting on Tuesday he signaled for the first time that the elections would be brought forward.

“Either the elections are held on time, or brought forward. We are ready for both options,” he said.