In a video posted by his office on Sunday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared that the elections in Turkey would take place on May 14, which is one month earlier than originally planned.
Erdogan stated in a video from this weekend's gathering with young people in Bursa that "This is not an early election, but bringing it ahead."
Erdogan said he would use his authority to go for elections on May 14, an adjustment he said was decided considering school exams.
This will be the most challenging election for the Turkish strongman, who has been in power for two decades, shaping the largely Muslim but officially secular country's politics.
The opposition alliance, which is still divided over who should run as a single candidate against the 68-year-old leader, also endorsed holding the elections on May 14.
This week, AFP was informed by an opposition party source that their joint candidate would be unveiled in February.