ANKARA, Turkey (AP) – Turkey’s ruling party is holding a special convention to confirm a longtime ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as its new chairman and next prime minister.
Binali Yildirim, the transport and communications minister and a founding member of the governing Justice and Development Party, is set on Sunday to replace Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu who is stepping down amid differences with Erdogan.
Yildirim, 60, is widely expected to be more in tune with Erdogan, who is pushing for an overhaul of the constitution that would give the largely ceremonial presidency executive powers.
Erdogan is expected to formally ask Yildirim to form a new government after the convention.
Supporters credit Yildirim for his role in developing the president’s signature infrastructure projects, which have helped buoy Turkey’s economy.