Erdogan plans election rally in Europe in May

Turkish President, Recep Erdogan, said on Wednesday he planned to hold an election rally in Europe in May, but declined to mention in which country the event would take place.

Erdogan told his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Ankara the event was planned for an indoor sports area.

“In May, we will hold our first meeting in an indoor sports arena in Europe, God willing.

“All preparations are done. I don’t want to say which country it is, for now,” Erdogan said.

In 2017, during a campaign for a referendum to empower his office, Erdogan and European leaders clashed over efforts by the AKP to hold rallies in Europe where a large Turkish diaspora lives.

Germany, the Netherlands and Austria have placed bans.

Erdogan, on April 18, called for snap parliamentary and presidential elections set for June 24, nearly a year-and-a-half ahead of schedule and which will take place under a state of emergency.

The AKP has allied with the far-right National Movement Party (MHP) in an apparent effort to shore up its electoral performance.

Opposition groupings are also in the process of discussing alliances and are expected to name presidential candidates in the coming days.

Constitutional changes, vastly empowering the presidency, narrowly passed in the 2017 referendum are set to kick in after the upcoming election.

The opposition says the reforms will weaken checks and balances and the role of parliament.