By DPA,
Istanbul : Turkey’s parliament Thursday set June 12 as the date for the country’s next general elections, the semi-official Anatolia Agency reported.
The ruling Justice and Development Party of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (AKP) is expected to prevail in the polls for the third time, after having won a parliamentary majority in general elections in 2002 and 2007.
Voters will choose amongst a number of political parties, ranging from liberal to Islamist to Marxist vying for the 550 seats in the new parliament.
The Supreme Board of Elections recently announced that more than two million Turkish citizens living abroad must travel to polling stations located at Turkish borders in order to cast their vote.
AKP officials had hoped that – unlike in previous elections – Turks living abroad would be allowed to vote from their country of residence. But the elections board said there was insufficient time to put the needed infrastructure in place.