Turkish president sets elections date for May 14

ANKARA -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday officially sets the country's presidential and parliamentary elections for May 14, a month earlier than scheduled.

Signing a presidential decree at a press conference, the president cited the Article 116 of the Turkish Constitution as his mandate to renew the elections on May 14, which were scheduled to be held on June 18.

The Supreme Election Board will launch a two-month election schedule after the decision is published on the country's official gazette on Saturday, Erdogan told reporters.

He added the decision was made considering university exams would take place on June 18, along with seasonal movements of Turkish citizens after schools are closed.

Erdogan will run for the upcoming presidential elections as the candidate of the People's Alliance.

The bloc is formed by the ruling Justice and Development Party, Nationalist Movement Party, and the Great Union Party.

He will be challenged by Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who runs for the opposition Nation Alliance made up of six parties.