Binali Yildirim Introduced as 'Future Prime Minister of Turkey'

Binali Yildirim, Turkey's Minister of Communications and Transport, was introduced on Thursday, May 30, as the candidate for the leadership of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), which, based on the constitution, will be the future Prime Minister of the country. According to Reuters, Mr. Yildirim, who is 60 years old, has been a close ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for over two decades and can therefore strengthen Mr. Erdogan's position to increase his power. Omar Celik, the spokesperson for the AKP, announced at a press conference after a meeting of the party's leaders that Binali Yildirim will be introduced as the sole candidate for the leadership of the AKP at the party congress, which will be held on Sunday. Mr. Yildirim, who is one of the founders of this party along with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is considered a driving force behind major economic projects in Turkey and is one of the prominent figures that contributed to the party's victory in its first decade in power. According to Reuters, he is among the politicians who support the policy of changing Turkey's parliamentary system to a presidential system, which is Mr. Erdogan's goal. Opponents argue that establishing a presidential system will lead to the growth of autocracy and tyranny and will strengthen the president's policy of eliminating Kurdish rebels in southeastern Turkey. Mr. Yildirim said at a press conference in Ankara, 'We will make every effort to fully coordinate with the founder and leadership of the party, and our colleagues at all levels of the party will strive to achieve the main goal of a great Turkey.' Binali Yildirim also stated that on Sunday, after his election as party leader and Prime Minister is confirmed by the party congress members, he will go to Diyarbakir in southeastern Turkey. Last week, a large explosion in this city resulted in the deaths of 16 people. Diyarbakir has witnessed severe clashes and violence in recent months since the beginning of the separatist Kurdish rebellion in the 1990s. Mr. Yildirim added, 'I want to tell my nation before going to Diyarbakir that I share the pain of citizens who were massacred by violence. The nation should not worry, as we will remove this bothersome terrorism from the government's agenda.' Binali Yildirim, who has three children, has been described as a conservative individual from a religious perspective and recently stated that when he was accepted to continue his education at one of Turkey's most prestigious universities, he refrained from attending because he saw images of male and female students sitting on the grass. Ahmet Davutoglu, the Prime Minister of Turkey, announced on May 16 that he would resign from the leadership of the AKP and consequently the Prime Minister's position due to disagreements with Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to Reuters, AKP sources say that the names of the members of the new government cabinet will likely be announced next Monday. Investors are closely monitoring potential changes in government members and want to know whether Mehmet Simsek, the current Deputy Prime Minister, will be replaced by someone else. From the perspective of some economic experts, his presence in the next government could boost confidence in the investment climate and ensure the continuity of economic policies in Turkey.