He will be the first president to lead a party since Ismet Inonu, who succeeded modern Turkey’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and was head of state until 1950. Opposition parties, which want the referendum annulled because of alleged irregularities, say the reforms push Turkey towards one-man rule. Erdogan’s return to the party coincides with growing foreign policy challenges and tensions with NATO allies. In one of his first steps after taking over the party, Erdogan is expected to streamline his economic team to try to speed up decisions and reassure markets that ministers are working to the same plan, sources said. Erdogan rejoined the AKP this month in what was the first of 18 constitutional amendments to be implemented.

Source: Egypt Independent May 21, 2017 12:22 UTC