President Erdoğan meets opposition party head after early election call
A meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Devlet Bahçeli -- the chairman of opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) -- has been held in Turkey's capital Ankara after the call for snap elections.
- World
- Anadolu Agency
- Published Date: 12:00 | 18 April 2018
- Modified Date: 02:51 | 18 April 2018
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli at the presidential complex on Wednesday.
The meeting, which started at 1.30 p.m. (1030GMT), comes after Bahçeli made a call on Tuesday for early elections in Turkey.
The meeting between the two lasted for a half-hour, according to a presidential source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.
Following the meeting, the source said Erdoğan will hold a news conference at the presidential complex at 3.30 p.m. (1230GMT).
Speaking at his party's parliamentary group in the capital Ankara, Bahçeli had said: "It should be known that the MHP wants early elections after the [constitutional] adjustment laws are enacted.
"Electing the president on Aug. 26...is the most rational and reasonable way forward."
On April 16, 2017, Turkey held a referendum during which the majority of voters decided in favor of an 18-article bill to switch from a parliamentary to a presidential system.
Turkey's parliamentary and presidential elections are currently scheduled to take place in November 2019.
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