Turkey's experienced Transport Minister Binali Yildirim, a steadfast ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has been named ruling party chief and is set to also be appointed prime minister in moves further consolidating the Turkish strongman's grip on power.
Mr Yildirim, 60, vowed at an extraordinary ruling party congress that anointed him to make a priority out of implementing Mr Erdogan's controversial plan for a presidential system to enshrine his status as the Turkish number one.
He replaces Ahmet Davutoglu, a former foreign minister who promoted his own ambitious agenda but stood down after a power struggle with Mr Erdogan.
Mr Yildirim was the only candidate at the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) congress in Ankara, receiving 1,405 votes from 1,470 delegates present.
