Turkish President Erdogan: “The electoral process will be launched on March 10”

President Erdogan declared that a decision will be taken on the election on March 10. Announcing that the electoral process will start after the publication in the official gazette on Friday, Erdogan also hinted that the election date may be May 14. Parliamentary and presidential elections will be held on the same day. Erdogan will be the joint presidential candidate of the People’s Alliance comprising the AK Party, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and the Great Union Party (BBP).

Opposition parties also started preparations for the elections, which are being followed with great interest not only within the borders but also internationally. It has been announced that Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) party, will be the joint candidate on behalf of the Nation Alliance formed by nationalist, right-wing, and conservative parties. Turbulent discussions have occurred after the withdrawal of chairwoman Meral Aksener of Good Party (IYI Parti) due to Kilicdaroğlu’s candidacy; nevertheless, Aksener decided to stay in the alliance.  Thus, the Nation Alliance declared that they will work jointly as six parties in the electoral process.

Another coalition for the upcoming elections, consisting of six left and progressive parties, is the Labor and Freedom Alliance, which proclaims to aim for equality, freedom, fraternity, peace, and democracy in society. The alliance, which also includes HDP, the third largest party in the last elections, stated that they will decide on the presidential candidate this week. HDP co-chairperson Mithat Sancar stressed the importance of the elections in a live broadcast on Habertürk: “These elections will perhaps be the most important elections in history.”