Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections will take place on May 14, just over three months after more than 45,000 people died in Turkey’s devastating earthquakes.

“This nation will do what is necessary on May 14, if it is the will of God,” Erdogan said in a speech to lawmakers of the ruling AKP party in parliament, referring to the date he had previously announced when elections would be held.

The Turkish President confirmed the date of the dual elections for the first time since the February 6 earthquakes.

It is recalled that there is great popular dissatisfaction with the Turkish government and the reaction of the state apparatus to the earthquakes. The President of Turkey, during a visit to the earthquake-hit city of Antiyaman, hastened to apologize to the public outcry.

“Unfortunately, due to the destructive force of the aftershocks, bad weather conditions and the difficulties associated with the destruction of infrastructure, we were not able to work as we would like in Antiyaman in the first days. And for that I apologize,” he said.

Source: Reuters.