Turkey ruling party names Binali Yildirim as candidate for next PM

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey's governing party on Thursday, May 19 formally tapped Binali Yildirim as its candidate to lead the party and become the country's next premier, the Associated Press reports.

The spokesman of the ruling Justice and Development Party, Omer Celik, made the announcement, saying the lawmaker from Izmir was chosen "with great consensus."

Yildirim is Turkey's minister of transport, maritime and communication as well as a founding member of the AKP. He will run unopposed for the party leadership at a special convention Sunday in Ankara. Traditionally, the post of premier in Turkey goes to the leader of the largest party in parliament, AP says.

The shake-up comes after Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced May 4 he was stepping down due to differences with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Analysts expect his successor to be more in tune with Erdogan, who is pushing for a constitutional overhaul that would concentrate greater powers in his hands.

"I will take this terror trouble off Turkey's agenda," vowed Yildirim addressing his party. He also thanked Davutoglu for his services.