Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has announced that he is stepping aside, declaring a May 22 congress date to mark the party’s future leader, the BBC reports.
The prime minister and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) leader said in a key press meeting on May 5 following a meeting of Central Executive Board (MYK) of the party that he decided to step aside despite success in his terms.
His decision came after consulting party bodies and President Recep Tayyip Erodogan, pointing to a recent move by the 50-seat decisive Central Decision and Executive Board (MKYK) to curb his rights to appoint local leaders of the AKP.
He said he preferred to leave the seat himself, instead of changing his associates, highlighting that he would remain friends with Erdogan.
“I have no sense of failure or regrets in taking this decision,” Davutoglu said, speaking at a press conference evaluating his prime ministry following the MYK meeting.
Davutoglu said resignation was not “my choice but a necessity.”
“The changing of chairs is more proper; I do not want to be a candidate at the congress,” he added.
“Our relationship of loyalty with the president will continue,” he also vowed.
