Turkey's Erdogan Sets Election Date for May 14

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has officially set the country's parliamentary and presidential elections for May 14, a month ahead of schedule.

He signed the decision in a ceremony shown live on television on Friday.

"Our nation will go to the polls to elect its president and parliamentarians on May 14," Erdogan said in a speech after signing the decision.

Erdogan set the clock ticking for the biggest test of his 20-year rule that will decide not only who leads Turkey but how it is governed, where its economy is headed, and what role it may play to ease conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Erdogan has ruled Turkey since 2003 — first as prime minister and as president since 2014. His first two decades in power were marked by surging economic growth, however, the last decade has seen a decline in prosperity which has hit his popularity with voters.

The elections will come three months after powerful earthquakes struck Turkey's southeast, killing more than 46,000 people and leaving millions across 11 Turkish provinces sheltering in tents or temporary accommodation.

The elections were scheduled to be held on June 18, but the government moved them forward to avoid coinciding with the Hajj pilgrimage, a university entrance exam, and the start of the summer vacation season.