Turkish president to head cabinet meeting in January

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that he would chair a cabinet meeting on Jan. 19 in the new presidential palace in capital Ankara Anadolu Agency reported

"There is an article in the Constitution that says the president can chair the (cabinet) meeting and call one when necessary," Erdogan told reporters following his visit to a trade union in Ankara.

He dismissed rumors that the meeting would be held on Jan. 5 and said he would gather the cabinet at the newly built palace on Jan. 19.

Erdogan said that the president is the head of the state and can use the powers granted to him by the Constitution to empower the government.