Turkish Press Review

ISTANBUL (AA) - Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

Wednesday’s dailies mainly covered the formation of Turkey’s new government and an opposition party's move to hold an extraordinary congress next month.

“Government with a mission,” was SABAH’s headline.

SABAH reported that newly appointed Prime Minister Binali Yildirim unveiled his primary mission, which is to transform the country’s parliamentary system into a presidential one.

Moreover, the daily said the new government would continue military operations against the terrorist organization PKK.

The daily said the new government would work closely with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party held an extraordinary party congress Sunday following former Chairman Ahmet Davutoglu’s decision to step down on May 5.

Yildirim, who was the sole candidate to run for the party’s leadership, garnered 1,405 out of 1,411 votes in the election held in Ankara.

“First [cabinet] meeting in palace,” was HURRIYET’s headline, reporting that Yildirim began his term by instituting a change: that the newly appointed government hold its first meeting, Wednesday, at the Presidential Palace in Ankara.

“Our first job is the constitution,” ran VATAN on its front page, citing Yildirim in his first party meeting in Ankara, according to VATAN.

According to STAR, Yildirim would seek consensus with other parties or would hold attempt to hold a referendum on the fate of the new constitution.

Turkey is currently governed under a parliamentary system but in August 2014, Turkish citizens, for the first time, directly elected the country’s president.

Since his election, Erdogan has voiced support in favor of a presidential system. But, none of Turkey’s three opposition parties represented in parliament have expressed backing for the shift to a presidential system.

YENI SAFAK labeled the new government as “experienced and performance-driven” while HABERTURK wrote “Balanced government”.

“All the president’s men,” was CUMHURIYET’s headline.

CUMHURIYET reported that Yildirim’s program did not include the solution process or fight against corruption, adding that “the new government targeted the presidential system”.

Financial paper DUNYA claimed that the country’s business circle was content with the government’s economy team.

DUNYA said the Turkish lira rose almost 1 percent against the U.S. dollar after it was announced that Mehmet Simsek would be staying on as deputy PM.

While the ruling party has changed its chairman through an extraordinary convention, the opposition National Movement Party, or MHP, has decided on Tuesday to hold a congress after a month-long struggle to prevent dissidents from going through with it.

“Congress, period,” was HABERTURK’s headline.

The Supreme Court confirmed Tuesday dissidents’ bid to convene a congress that might lead to the selection of new party leadership.

Right after the ruling, the MHP leadership announced that the party would hold a convention.

“Showdown on June 26,” was CUMHURIYET’s headline.

Meanwhile, several dailies reported that six soldiers were martyred by PKK terrorists.

“Black news from Van [an eastern Turkish province],” was YENI SAFAK’s headline.

The daily reported that six soldiers, including a major, were dispatched to Van’s Chaldiran district to clear a road that was blocked by members of the terrorist organization.

While an armored car was heading to the area, the PKK detonated a roadside bomb that killed six soldiers.

Turkey’s southeast has been the scene of significant military operations since December 2015 as the police and army seek to clear the PKK terrorist organization from urban areas.