ANKARA, Turkey—Turkey’s ruling party held a special convention on Sunday to confirm a longtime ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as its new chairman and next prime minister, a move that is likely to consolidate the Turkish leader’s hold on power.
Binali Yildirim, the transport and communications minister and a founding member of the governing Justice and Development Party, or AKP, is set to replace Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu who announced earlier this month that he is stepping down amid differences with Erdogan.
Yildirim, 60, who is running unopposed for the party’s leadership, 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.
Traditionally, the post of premier in Turkey goes to the leader of the largest party in parliament and Erdogan is expected to formally ask Yildirim to form a new government after the convention.
In his speech, Yildirim paid homage to Erdogan and expressed his devotion to him.
“We have always proudly said that we are Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s companion, that we share a common fate and a common passion,” Yildirim said. “Mr. President, we promise you that your passion will be our passion, your cause will be our cause, your path will be our path.”
