Tayyip Erdo

Following the quick and a bit sad stepping down of Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu, Turkish President Tayyip Erdo?an said on May 6 that there will be no turning back from his target of shifting from a parliamentarian system to strong presidential system.

Praising the outgoing Turkish government's spirit of cooperation, the top European Union diplomat based in Ankara has voiced his expectation that the subsequent government after the departure of Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu will uphold the country's agreement with Brussels on curbing migration as well as on visa liberalization for Turkish citizens.

Following a meeting with President Tayyip Erdo?an on May 5 that lasted 1 hour 40 minutes, Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu is taking the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) to an emergency congress on May 22, saying he will not put his name forward as a leadership candidate. 

In other words, Davuto?lu has not resigned but he is stepping down. 

Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu had been waiting for days for this good news from the European Union about visa-free travel for Turkish citizens.

It came as part of the broader immigration deal with Brussels, but it was Davuto?lu's idea to bring it forward to June, rather than October, that would make it his success. 

Parliament's Constitution Commission approved a draft bill on May 2 to lift the immunities of more than 130 MPs who are under legal investigation, in order to let the courts try them. The bill was approved with the votes of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti), the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) after two tense commission

In two separate speeches delivered on April 28, Turkish President Tayyip Erdo?an strongly criticized the Islamic world for failure in a number of areas.

There are three important thresholds or tests ahead of Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu in the next two months which can be decisive for Turkey in closing the gap with the West.

Swiss authorities said on April 27 they had rebuffed a Turkish request to remove a photography installation critical of Turkey's President Tayyip Erdo?an from a public square in front of the U.N. site in Geneva.

Reactions poured in on April 26 after a statement by Turkish Parliament Speaker ?smail Kahraman late on April 25, in which he said he believed secularism should not be included in the new constitution, which is still being drafted by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti). "As a Muslim country, why should we be in a situation where we are retreating from religion?

According to Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, Turkey sets the "best example" in how it hosts the refugees who have been fleeing the five-year-long civil war in Syria.

He said that during a visit to refugee camps in the southern border province of Gaziantep along with other ranking EU officials and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on April 23.