ISTANBUL (TIP): Turkey‘s governing party on Thursday formally tapped Binali Yildirim as its candidate to lead the party and become the country’s next premier.

The spokesman of the ruling Justice and Development Party , Omer Celik, made the announcement, saying the lawmaker from Izmir was chosen “with great consensus”.

Yildirim is Turkey’s minister of transport, maritime and communication as well as a founding member of the AKP. He will run unopposed for the party leadership at a special convention on Sunday in Ankara. Traditionally, the post of premier in Turkey goes to the leader of the largest party in parliament.

The shake-up comes after Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced May 4 he was stepping down due to differences with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan . Analysts expect his successor to be more in tune with Erdogan, who is pushing for a constitutional overhaul that would concentrate greater powers in his hands. (AP)