Binali Yildirim, Turkey's current Transportation Minister and founding member of the AKP, Turkeyâs governing party, salutes during a meeting in Ankara, Turkey, Thursday, May 19, 2016. Officials of the Party tapped Yildirim as their candidate of choice as a new leader and the countryâs next prime minister. Yildirim will run unopposed for the party leadership at an extraordinary to be held Sunday in Ankara.(AP Photo)
The Associated Press
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has formally asked his trusted ally, Transport and Communications Minister Binali Yildirim, to form Turkey's next government.
Erdogan tapped Yildirim on Sunday to replace Ahmet Davutoglu who stepped down amid growing differences with the Turkish leader, including Erdogan's wish to overhaul of the constitution to give the largely ceremonial presidency executive powers. Davutoglu remains caretaker premier until Yildirim forms a new Cabinet.
Yildirim's appointment came hours after the ruling party confirmed him as its new party chairman at an extraordinary convention during which the 60-year-old politician vowed to follow Erdogan's path. He made clear he intends to work toward introducing a new constitution that would change Turkey's political system into a presidential one.
Binali Yildirim, Turkey's current Transportation Minister and founding member of the AKP, Turkeyâs governing party, salutes during a meeting in Ankara, Turkey, Thursday, May 19, 2016. Yildirim is expected to stand unopposed for the party leadership and automatically become Prime Minister at an extraordinary meeting to be held Sunday in Ankara. The shake up comes after Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu stepped down on May 4. (AP Photo)
The Associated Press
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu shake hands as they pose for a photograph during a final farewell in Ankara, Turkey, Thursday, May 19, 2016. Davutoglu stepped down on May 4 over differences with Erdogan who is pushing for a constitutional overhaul that would concentrate greater powers in his hands.(Kayhan Ozer/Pool Photo via AP)
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Binali Yildirim, Turkey's current Transportation Minister and founding member of the AKP, Turkeyâs governing party, and his wife Semiha Yildirim salute supporters during party congress in Ankara, Turkey, Sunday, May 22, 2016. Turkey's ruling party held a special convention on Sunday to confirm Binali Yildirim, a longtime ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as its new chairman and next prime minister, a move that is likely to consolidate the Turkish leader's hold on power.(AP Photo/Riza Ozel, Pool)
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Head of the governing Justice and Development Party and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu with his wife Sare Davutoglu, left, waves towards supporters during the party congress in Ankara, Turkey, Sunday, May 22, 2016. Binali Yildirim, the transport and communications minister is set to replace Davutoglu who announced earlier this month that he is stepping down amid differences with Erdogan. Yildirim, a longtime ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, will replace Davutoglu as the next prime minister, a move that is likely to consolidate the Turkish leader's hold on power.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
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Supporters hold a banner with images of Binali Yildirim, Turkey's current Transportation Minister and founding member of the AKP, Turkeyâs governing party, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during party congress in Ankara, Turkey, Sunday, May 22, 2016. Turkey's ruling party held a special convention on Sunday to confirm Binali Yildirim, a longtime ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as its new chairman and next prime minister, a move that is likely to consolidate the Turkish leader's hold on power.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
The Associated Press