Erdogan sets May 14 election date as he seeks to extend rule

By SUZAN FRASER
Associated Press

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has formally set the country’s parliamentary and presidential elections for May 14. That’s a month earlier than scheduled despite the devastating Feb. 6 earthquake that killed about 50,000 people in Turkey and Syria. Erdogan is seeking to extend his two decades in power, and the elections will determine whether Turkey continues on the increasingly authoritarian course set by the strongman politician. He has ruled over Turkey since 2003. The upcoming elections could present him with his biggest electoral challenges. The country is struggling with a troubled economy, soaring inflation and the aftermath of the powerful earthquake that killed more than 46,000 people. Erdogan made the announcement on Friday.