Turkey: Resignation was to preserve "unity of our party" - Davutoglu

Former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu stated that he did not want to resign, but did so to preserve the unity of Turkey's AK Party, during a farewell address at an extraordinary party convention in Ankara, Sunday.
"It was not my desire to be here in front of you today, a short time after a victorious election for a new congress," said Davutoglu, adding that "the only reason behind this decision that I took" was "for the value of the unity of our party and my concern that that our AK Party movement may suffer."
Turkish Transport and Communications Minister Binali Yildirim was officially appointed as the Leader of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), during the party's second extraordinary congress, in Ankara on Sunday. As chairman of Turkey's ruling party, Yildirim is automatically appointed to the position of Turkish Prime Minister.
Yildirim's appointment follows former Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announcing his resignation from the post, in a press conference on May 5. Davutoglu reportedly resigned due to a score of disagreements with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Although no longer party chairman, Davutoglu said he would continue to be a member of the AKP.
Yildirim was one of the AKP's founding members, alongside Erdogan, former President of Turkey Abdullah Gul and former Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc. He joined the cabinet as Transport Minister in 2002, serving in three consecutive governments.