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Turkey PM Ahmet Davutoglu to quit amid reports of Erdogan rift | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says he will stand down at an extraordinary congress of his ruling AK Party later this month. | Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says he will stand down at an extraordinary congress of his ruling AK Party later this month. |
Mr Davutoglu is believed to have fallen from favour having disapproved of Mr Erdogan's plans to move Turkey to a presidential system of government. | |
But in a speech, Mr Davutoglu pledged his loyalty to President Erdogan, saying he bore no anger to anyone. | |
His successor will be chosen when the congress meets on 22 May. | |
Leadership split spoils the party | Leadership split spoils the party |
Recep Tayyip Erdogan - Turkey's bruised battler | Recep Tayyip Erdogan - Turkey's bruised battler |
Earlier on Thursday, presidential aide Cemil Ertem said there would be no snap elections following the appointment of a new leader. | Earlier on Thursday, presidential aide Cemil Ertem said there would be no snap elections following the appointment of a new leader. |
He also told Turkish TV that the country and its economy would stabilise further "when a prime minister more closely aligned with President Erdogan takes office". | He also told Turkish TV that the country and its economy would stabilise further "when a prime minister more closely aligned with President Erdogan takes office". |
Brutal end: Analysis by Mark Lowen, Turkey correspondent | |
When the end came, it was swift and brutal. Ahmet Davutoglu bowed out after crossing the man with the real power: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. | |
Mr Davutoglu was expected to be a pliant prime minister but disagreed with some of Mr Erdogan's more controversial policies and crucially wavered in his support to change the constitution to boost the president's powers. | |
His resignation means Mr Erdogan tightens his control of Turkey and is likely to install a more obedient prime minister. It will worry many Western leaders who find the divisive Mr Erdogan difficult to handle. | |
And it plunges this crucial country into a political crisis amid security threats and rows over the clampdown on human rights and free speech. The message from President Erdogan to Mr Davutoglu's successor is clear: follow my lead or you'll face the same fate. | |
Read more from Mark | |
Mr Davutoglu met Mr Erdogan for nearly two hours on Wednesday but differences were clearly not resolved. | |
Mr Davutoglu said he would continue as a party legislator and would not try to divide the AKP. | |
"I feel no reproach, anger or resentment against anyone," he said. | |
"No-one heard, or will ever hear, a single word from my mouth, from my tongue or my mind against our president." | |
Why is this happening now? | Why is this happening now? |
After he was elected president in 2014, Mr Erdogan hand-picked Mr Davutoglu to succeed him as head of the AK Party (Justice and Development Party). | After he was elected president in 2014, Mr Erdogan hand-picked Mr Davutoglu to succeed him as head of the AK Party (Justice and Development Party). |
But the prime minister's unease with Mr Erdogan's plans to move to a presidential system, among other policies, has been evident in recent months. | But the prime minister's unease with Mr Erdogan's plans to move to a presidential system, among other policies, has been evident in recent months. |
In a sign of his weakening influence, Mr Davutoglu was stripped last week of the authority to appoint provincial AK Party officials. | In a sign of his weakening influence, Mr Davutoglu was stripped last week of the authority to appoint provincial AK Party officials. |
What will this mean for Turkey? | What will this mean for Turkey? |
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. | 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. |
Turkey is also in the midst of implementing a key deal with the European Union, brokered by Mr Davutoglu, to limit the number of refugees flowing across its border in return for accelerated EU accession talks and financial aid. | Turkey is also in the midst of implementing a key deal with the European Union, brokered by Mr Davutoglu, to limit the number of refugees flowing across its border in return for accelerated EU accession talks and financial aid. |
The future of that agreement, which Mr Davutoglu was seen as having agreed with little input from the president, could be plunged into doubt by his departure. | The future of that agreement, which Mr Davutoglu was seen as having agreed with little input from the president, could be plunged into doubt by his departure. |
Who will be his successor? | Who will be his successor? |
Among those tipped as successors to Mr Davutoglu are Transport Minister Binali Yildirim, who is close to Mr Erdogan, and Energy Minister Berat Albayrak, who is the president's son-in-law. | Among those tipped as successors to Mr Davutoglu are Transport Minister Binali Yildirim, who is close to Mr Erdogan, and Energy Minister Berat Albayrak, who is the president's son-in-law. |
The leader will be formally elected at the party congress. | |
What has been the fall-out? | What has been the fall-out? |
The political uncertainty has rattled the financial markets. The Turkish lira suffered its heaviest daily loss on Wednesday, down almost 4% against the US dollar. | |
It rallied slightly on Thursday but was still well off its previous trading levels. | |