“We promise you that your passion will be our passion, your cause will be our cause, your path will be our path”, he said, before vowing to work to introduce a new constitution so the current “de facto situation” with the presidency became a “legal” one.
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Davutoglu announced he would step down earlier this month amid reported differences with Erdogan.
Repeating the AKP mantra to provide services, Yildirim told party delegates the country’s most important “priority” was to turn Turkey into a presidential system with Erdogan as its head. Erdogan is expected to request him to form a government after the convention.
Nihat Zeybekci, a close Erdogan ally, returned as economy minister, a post he had held until last November.
“With the introduction of a presidential system the fragile balance between the legislative, the executive and the judiciary will be disrupted, all power will be concentrated in one hand”, nationalist leader Devlet Bahceli said.
Erdogan and his supporters see an executive presidency, akin to the system in the United States or France, as a guarantee against the fractious coalition politics that hampered the government in the 1990s.
“We think that he knows best, that’s why we accept this change”, said Esra Kor of Mr. Yildirim’s elevation to prime minister.
Speaking after meeting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Monday, Merkel also expressed concern about a move to strip legislators of their immunity from prosecution. If he seeks a second presidential mandate in 2019, he could stay in power until 2024.
“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.
Referred to as the “unchanging” minister, Yildirim spent some 11 years working on Turkey’s transport infrastructure and achieved some significant results, although not without getting involved in some scandals along the way.
Not known for charisma, Yildirim made a glitzy entrance in front of thousands at the congress, clad in football scarves and throwing carnations into the crowds to the sound of thumping Turkish pop music.
However his speech was marred by a hoarse voice as he seemed unaccustomed to the challenge of addressing such a vast audience.
Talking about possible consequences of cabinet reshuffle, Kosachev noted that “it is hard to say because the main problem is clearly not the new prime minister”.
In his farewell speech, Davutoglu said resigning was not his wish but that he agreed to it to preserve the unity of the party.
The two are trying to keep a deal on track which would see Turks gain visa-free travel to Europe in return for Ankara continuing to stem the flow of illegal migrants into Europe.
In the interview, Merkel stood by the deal, saying: “I am convinced that it’s in German, European and Turkish interests, and especially in the interests of those who are fleeing war and persecution”.
Internationally, Turkey is also traversing a delicate moment in its relations with the European Union.
Rutte also said he had raised the issue of Dutch newspaper columnist Ebru Umar, who may face charges of insulting Erdogan after sending out several tweets during a holiday.
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Mr Yildirim was elected as leader of the AKP unopposed on 22 May.
