Turkey intends to hold elections on May 14 despite earthquake, says president

People warm themselves next to a collapsed building in Malatya, Turkey. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated on Wednesday that his government still intends to hold elections a month earlier than scheduled (Emrah Gurel/AP/PA)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated on Wednesday that his government still intends to hold elections a month earlier than scheduled despite the earthquake that devastated parts of southern Turkey last month.

In an address to legislators of his ruling party, Mr Erdogan chided critics of the government’s handling of the earthquake’s aftermath and said the people would give their response to those critics on May 14 — the election date his ruling party had tentatively set for before the deadly tremor hit.