Davuto?lu stepping down as Turkish PM, AKP to hold snap congress

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has announced his decision to leave the chairmanship of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) at an extraordinary convention on May 22, underlining that the real reason behind his departure was not his failure as premier but differences with his colleagues over principles. 

"My term [as prime minister] was one of success. With this decision, there is no feeling of unsuccessfulness or regret over what I have done. I did my job properly and with honor," Davuto?lu said at a press conference after the AKP's central-decision making body decided to hold an extraordinary convention on May 22. 

"The fact that my term lasted far shorter than four years is not a decision of mine but a necessity," he said, hinting at recently surfaced in-house tension with President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an as the main reason for his sudden departure. But Davuto?lu vowed that he would not permit AKP opponents to weaken the government, instead calling on all his colleagues to stand united. "Our party is on the verge of a new era. This is the time of unity." 

Davuto?lu's farewell-like statement was full of emotion and a long summary of his 20 months as prime minister, as well as hints about the reason for his resignation despite his self-described success. 

Davuto?lu was careful in his remarks about the role of Erdo?an in his resignation but blamed some of his party colleagues without naming them. 

"I am of the opinion that a change in the party chairmanship would be much better than reshuffling the MYK [Central Decision-Making Body] of the AKP. That move would create more tension inside the party," he said. 
Davuto?lu explained that an in-house move that had removed his authority to appoint AKP provincial and...