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The Latest: Turkish president calls snap elections for June

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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ANKARA, Turkey – The Latest on political developments in Turkey (all times local):

4:05 p.m.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country will hold early parliamentary and presidential elections on June 24.

Erdogan made the announcement on Wednesday after talks with Devlet Bahceli, the leader of Turkey's main nationalist party, who made a surprise call for snap elections a day earlier.

Erdogan said the elections that were originally scheduled to be held in November 2019 need to be brought forward in order to quickly usher in a new presidential system to deal with challenges ahead.

Turkey is switching from a parliamentary system to a presidential one that will increase the powers of the president. The changes will come into effect with the next elections.

Bahceli, Erdogan's political ally, had argued there was "no point in prolonging this any longer," citing efforts by unnamed circles to foment chaos in Turkey.

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2 p.m.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is meeting the leader of the country's main nationalist party to discuss his political ally's surprise call for early elections.

Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party, said Tuesday that parliamentary and presidential elections scheduled for November 2019 should be brought forward by more than a year to Aug. 26, 2018.

Erdogan, who has long said that the elections would be held as scheduled, is meeting with Bahceli on Wednesday.

Turkey is switching from a parliamentary system to a presidential system that increases the powers of the president, following a narrowly approved referendum last year.

The changes will come into effect with the next elections.

Bahceli argued there was "no point in prolonging this any longer," citing efforts by unnamed circles to foment chaos in Turkey.