Turkey’s Transport Minister Binali Yildirim was appointed head of the ruling party and the country’s new prime minister Sunday, consolidating strongman President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s grip on power.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday gave his close ally and Transport Minister Binali Yildirim the mandate to form a new government as prime minister following the resignation of Ahmet Davutoglu, the presidency said.

Erdogan handed Yildirim the mandate in a meeting at the presidential palace hours after the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) chose him as its new chairman at an extraordinary congress.

Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on Sunday elected Binali Yildirim, a close ally of Erdoogan, as its new leader to replace Ahmet Davutoglu.

Yildirim, the only candidate, received 1,405 votes from 1,470 delegates present.

By AKP convention, the posts of premier and ruling party chief are held by the same person.

The 60-year-old replaces in both jobs Ahmet Davutoglu, a former foreign minister who promoted his own ambitious agenda but threw in the towel after a power struggle with Erdogan.

Analysts expect Yildirim to be a more pliant figure for Erdogan than Davutoglu, as the president presses on with his plan to create a presidential system in Turkey to further consolidate his powers.