Davutoglu to stand down as Turkey’s PM on May 22

World Today

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced his resignation on Thursday, paving the way for the country’s president to pursue a tighter grip on power. Davutoglu, who had fallen out with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, announced he was stepping aside following a meeting with executives of the AKP. (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced his resignation Thursday, paving the way for the country’s president to pursue a tighter grip on power. The move followed a meeting with executives of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which has dominated Turkish politics since 2002.

The decision is not effective immediately. The party will hold an emergency convention May 22 to select a new party leader who would also replace the premier.

“I decided that for the unity of the AK Party a change of chairman would be more appropriate rather than a change of friends, because the renewal of central executive board (at the party) would result in unnecessary discussions in the party. Therefore, I am not considering running at the upcoming emergency convention,” Davutoglu said.

Davutoglu, who is rumoured to have fallen out with President Recept Tayyip Erdogan, announced he was stepping aside following a meeting with executives of the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, which has dominated Turkish politics since 2002.

“This era was the era of a strong president and a strong prime minister, as our president said in his speech in the (previous) emergency convention. I tried to put this principle, stressed by our president that day, into practice. That day, our president said ‘I don’t want a caretaker prime minister’. That was the right approach. That was the correct advice,” Davutoglu said.

“Our era is a success era. No feeling of unsuccessfulness or regret played a part in me taking this decision. I did my duty properly and with my honor.”