New AKP Leader Binali Yildirim Working to Form Turkey’s New Government

A handout photo provided by Turkish President's press office shows President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim (L), in Ankara, Turkey, 22 May 2016. EPA/BGNES

Turkey’s incoming Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has said he is preparing a list of cabinet ministers after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked him to form the country’s new government.

“It is not the first time a government is formed in Turkey,” Yildirim told reporters in Ankara on Monday, according to AFP.

Yildirim didn’t say when the when the new cabinet lineup would be announced.

“Do not worry, it will be sorted out in a short while,” AFP quoted Yildirim as saying.

Erdogan on Sunday asked the new leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to form Turkey’s new cabinet.

Binali Yildirim, a trusted ally of Erdogan, succeeded Ahmet Davutoglu as AKP leader at an extraordinary party congress on Sunday. AKP rules require the posts of party chairman and prime minister to be held by the same person. 

Davutoglu announced earlier this month that he would not stand again for the AKP chairmanship amid growing differences with Erdogan. Yildirim, the minister of transport, maritime affairs and communications in the outgoing government, was the sole candidate for the post at the congress.

Before AKP delegates Yildirim vowed to put priority on working toward changing the constitution in a way that would give executive powers to Turkey’s president.

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