After winning the presidency in 2014 following more than a decade as prime minister, Erdogan was legally bound to renounce ties to the AKP and remain impartial. As transport minister, Yildirim was a driving force behind major infrastructure projects which were one of the pillars of the AKP's electoral successes during its first decade in power. Yildirim was the sole candidate for party leader at the AKP congress, called after Ahmet Davutoglu announced he was stepping down as prime minister following weeks of public tension with Erdogan. "Erdogan is a man of purpose, a man of the people, a tireless defender of the great Turkey," he said. I am announcing hereby that operations will end when all our citizens are safe," Yildirim said in an emotional speech.

Source: Huffington Post May 22, 2016 12:52 UTC