August 27, 2014 - 14:25 AMT
Erdogan says incoming PM Davutoglu to announce cabinet August 29

Turkish president-elect Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday, August 27 he would ask incoming prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu to form a new government on Thursday, and a new cabinet of ministers would be announced the following day, according to Reuters.

Erdogan was speaking outside a congress meeting of the ruling AKP in Ankara, where tens of thousands of people had thronged to hear his final address as party leader after more than a decade at the helm, before he ascends to the presidency.

"God willing, we will give Davutoglu the mandate to form the government tomorrow, and the new cabinet will be announced on Friday," Erdogan told a crowd of his ruling AK Party supporters before entering the meeting hall.

The AK Party was set to elect current Foreign Minister Davutoglu as its leader at the congress in an Ankara sports hall later in the day, and Erdogan will appoint him prime minister on Thursday after his inauguration.

AKP members waved Turkish and party flags and cheered as Erdogan arrived at the hall. He greeted them and threw red carnations to the crowd as a song dedicated to him boomed out around the arena.

The heavily choreographed event - complete with films recounting Erdogan's political career - demonstrated the slick party machinery that has helped the AK Party dominate Turkish politics since it first came to power in 2002.

Photo: World Tribune