Turkey's parliament has approved July 22 as the date for early general elections aimed at resolving the standoff between the ruling Islamist-rooted party and secularists over the selection of a new president.
Lawmakers Thursday, voted to back the date proposed by a parliamentary committee.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for an early election after Turkey's Constitutional Court annulled the first round of a parliamentary vote to select a new president, citing lack of a quorum.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul of the ruling A.K. Party was the only candidate for president.
Mr. Erdogan said the court's decision made it impossible for parliament to elect a president.
Current President Ahmet Necdet Sezer says he will remain in office until his replacement is selected.
Prime Minister Erdogan also has called for a constitutional amendment allowing the Turkish people instead of parliament to elect the president.
Secularist Turks say they fear the A.K. Party has a hidden Islamic agenda and that Gul's election as president would threaten the country's strict secular system of government.
Both Mr. Erdogan and Gul deny the charge.