Turkey's Erdogan approves new government formed by ally
ANKARA - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday approved a new government formed by one of his most trusted allies, who has pledged to push through constitutional reforms that would expand the powers of the presidency.
Erdogan took a break from hosting a summit meeting in Istanbul to approve a Cabinet list presented by Binali Yildirim, who replaces the outgoing prime minister, Ahmet Davutoglu.
Erdogan tapped Yildirim, 60, to form a new government on Sunday after Davutoglu stepped down amid a range of differences with the president, including Davutoglu's apparent less-than-enthusiastic stance toward an overhaul of the constitution to give the largely ceremonial presidency executive powers.
Soon after his nomination, Yildirim vowed to follow Erdogan's path and transition Turkey into a presidential system.
