Signing a decision on Friday, Turkish President Erdogan said that the country’s parliamentary and presidential elections would be held on May 14. Once the decision is published in the Official Gazette, the Supreme Election Board (YSK) will have the final say.

The YSK will meet either today or tomorrow to approve the decision. The YSK will convene again next week and announce the election schedule.

If the president is not elected in the first round, the second round will take place on May 28.

Erdogan is seeking another term in office in the election. According to the constitution, however, he would not be allowed to run for the presidency again. Section 101 of the Turkish constitution sets a maximum limit of two terms for the president. Because Erdogan was already elected president in 2014 and confirmed in office in 2018, the opposition parties argue that this is the end for the AKP politician.

Erdogan rejects the objections. He argues that with the new constitution of 2018, the count starts all over again, and that nothing constitutionally stands in the way of his running for another five-year term. Erdogan was prime minister from 2003 before becoming president in 2014. In 2017, he introduced a presidential system by constitutional referendum and established a one-man regime.

According to polls, Erdogan must fear for his re-election this time. The autocratic long-term ruler has been criticised for the lack of a crisis management plan after the devastating earthquakes on February 6, which left tens of thousands dead and thousands injured.