Speaking to reporters Thursday, Davutoglu said he reached his decision after the AKP removed his powers to appoint local party leadership, explaining that he did not like the way the party went about the action.
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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.
Davutoglu announced he would not stand in the vote for the party chairmanship, a role he now holds alongside the premiership, meaning he will also be replaced as prime minister. He recalled that when he took over the party Erdogan said in a speech: “This is the era of a strong president and a strong prime minister”.
Mr Davutoglu’s successor is likely to be more willing to back Mr Erdogan’s aim of changing the constitution to create a presidential system.
The development comes at a time of increasing instability for Turkey, which is tackling an escalating conflict with the rebels of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), attacks by the so-called Islamic State, and an influx of migrants and refugees.
With an eye on the Turkish economy, the prime minister also warned against speculation in the wake of his announcement.
“But. President Erdogan apparently believed that Davutoglu wasn’t doing his utmost to advance this agenda, a bit too ambivalent about this prospect”. “I never interfered with any decisions about our party”, Davutoglu said.
“Davutoglu’s resignation should not be perceived as an internal party issue, all democracy supporters must resist this palace coup”, Kilicdaroglu said at a news conference at his Republican People’s Party (CHP) headquarters in Ankara.
A tough negotiator and strategic thinker, Davutoğlu has been a key government player since Erdoğan first came to power as prime minister in 2003.
Davutoglu’s resignation may also have serious consequences for the EU.
Davutoglu has, however, stopped short of criticizing the Turkish president and stressed his loyalty to Erdogan, who is the AKP’s founding father and most influential figure.
According to the conventions of the AKP – a party co-founded by Erdogan to bring Islam into the mainstream of Turkey’s secular politics – the party chairman and head of government are the same person.
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Davutoglu leads the party, and therefore holds the role of prime minister. “This kind of nepotism at the highest state level will make Europe more annoyed with Erdogan”, the Russian politician stressed.
