Despite his weakened position following the June 7 elections, which saw the Justice and Development Party (AKP) he once led lose its parliamentary majority, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is continuing with his efforts to show who is boss when it comes to crucial political decisions in Turkey. In doing so, however, he is also continuing to disregard the Turkish Constitution and the political propriety required of him as president.

Pre-empting Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Erdogan announced last week that the country would be holding early elections Nov. 1. Under normal circumstances, this announcement should come from the head of the government. Turkey, however, is currently in the throes of unprecedented circumstances.

By making his announcement, Erdogan embarrassed Davutoglu once again by showing who is calling the shots. He also disregarded the need to wait for the end of the constitutionally mandated 45-day period after elections for party leaders to try to form a coalition government. Moreover, he felt no need to let the Supreme Electoral Board hold its normal contacts with party leaders before an election date was announced.

Talking to reporters in Ankara on Aug. 20, Erdogan claimed he was acting within the limits of his authority and said he would not allow a waste of time, seeing as Davutoglu’s efforts to form a coalition had failed. “Is there the need to waste time? Can the president take the country to elections? He can. As president, I will meet the speaker of parliament on Monday, which is the end of the 45-day period, and we will take our country to early elections,” Erdogan said, and announced the election date as Nov. 1.