About: Binali Yildirim
Erdogan suffers biggest defeat since AKP foundation
Turkey’s opposition has dealt President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan a stinging blow by winning control of Istanbul in a re-run mayoral election, breaking his aura of invincibility and delivering a message from voters unhappy over his policies. Ekrem Imamoğlu of the...
First TV debate in nearly two decades ahead of Istanbul election re-run
The two candidates for the re-run of the mayoral election in Istanbul met in the first live television debate in 17 years on Sunday (16 June). The re-run will be held on 23 June. The event was broadcast on all...
Erdogan’s AK Party to seek recount of all Istanbul votes
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's AK Party is seeking a full recount of all votes cast in local elections in Istanbul, a senior party official said on Sunday (7 April), a week after initial results showed a narrow victory for Turkey's main opposition party.
Turkey detains dozens more in ‘terror propaganda’ clampdown
Turkish security forces yesterday (23 January) detained dozens more people nationwide on accusations of spreading propaganda for "terror" groups, in a major clampdown as Ankara presses its new offensive inside Syria.
Turkey voices energy ambitions at World Petroleum Congress
Turkey, a country poor in energy resources, has voiced its ambitions to leverage its geographic position by becoming an even more important crossroads of supply routes and a giant energy hub, saying this would “improve” the EU’s energy security.
Greece and Turkey downplay divisions ahead of fresh Cyprus talks
Greece and Turkey put a territorial dispute in the Aegean on the back-burner in talks in Athens on Monday (19 June). The two countries' prime ministers instead focused on their common commercial interests ahead of another round of UN-sponsored talks on Cyprus.
Refugee deal continues to preoccupy Germany
Angela Merkel harshly criticised Turkey’s “misplaced Nazi comparisons” ahead of yesterday’s EU summit (9 March) but still insisted the refugee deal is important and must stay in place. Criticism is growing in both the German and European parliaments though. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Erdogan tells Merkel to abandon ‘Islamist terror’ phrase
Ahead of today’s EU summit in Malta (3 February), German Chancellor Angela Merkel paid a visit to Turkey, where President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan lectured her not to use the expression “Islamist terror."
Turkey slams EU vote as ‘most unjust in history’
Turkey's EU Affairs Minister, Ömer Çelik, on Tuesday (29 November) dismissed a European Parliament vote to freeze accession talks with Ankara as the "most unjust resolution in history" and urged solidarity instead.
Turkey’s ruling party withdraws ‘rape law’
Turkey's ruling party said today (22 November) it will withdraw a marriage bill that the United Nations warned could legitimise child rape.
Euro MPs cancel Turkey trip over coup criticism
Top EU lawmakers yesterday (16 November) cancelled a visit to Turkey after Ankara refused to see one of the MEPs because of her criticism of Ankara's massive crackdown following July's failed coup, a parliament source said.
Turkey says it’s tired of ‘two-faced’ EU attitude
Turkey is "fed up" with European Union condescension in talks over its application to join the bloc, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said yesterday (15 November), reflecting Ankara's exasperation with EU criticism over human rights.
Erdogan: ‘I don’t care if they call me dictator’
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused Europe yesterday (6 November) of abetting terrorism by supporting Kurdish militants and said he did not care if the continent called him a dictator.
EU should not forget Turkey has alternatives, PM warns
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım warned the EU on Saturday (22 October) not to forget that Turkey has alternatives to the bloc, whose ties with Ankara have become increasingly strained.
Pipeline focus at Istanbul World Energy Congress
Major pipeline projects such as Turkish Stream and TANAP were the focus of the 23rd World Energy Congress which opened in Istanbul yesterday (10 October) in the presence of the leaders of Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Car bomb attack kills 18 at Turkish military checkpoint
Eighteen people were killed yesterday (9 October) when a van packed with five tonnes of explosives blew up in Turkey's restive southeast, the prime minister said, in an attack blamed on Kurdish militants.
Turkey suspends 12,800 police, shuts TV channel
Turkey yesterday (4 October) suspended 12,800 police officers over alleged links to an Islamic preacher accused of masterminding the failed July coup, and cut broadcasts of a pro-Kurdish television channel under its controversial state of emergency.
Schulz signals visa-free travel for Turks possible despite differences
The European Union wants Turkey to change its anti-terrorism law which it considers too broad but such differences do not mean a deal to grant Turkish citizens visa-free access to Europe will fail, the European parliament chief said yesterday (1 September).
Main opposition leader in Turkey unharmed after PKK attack
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the leader of Turkey’s social democratic main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), escaped an assassination attempt yesterday (25 August) in the northeastern province of Artvin, near the border with Georgia.
Yildirim: Turkey clearing borders to prevent more migrants
Turkey aims to clear its borders of Islamic State and other militant groups to prevent a new flow of migrants and will continue operations until the nation's security is guaranteed, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Friday (26 August).
Borissov: ‘Absolute non-solidarity’ reigns in the EU
The Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov made use of anti-EU rhetoric ahead of a visit to Turkey tomorrow (26 August), describing Ankara as Sofia’s only ally in the context of the refugee crisis.
Biden mends fences with Turkey, at the expense of Kurdish forces in Syria
On a visit to Ankara, US Vice President Joe Biden sought yesterday (24 August) to ease tensions with Turkey which have been growing since the 15 July coup attempt.
Erdogan blames Islamic State for Gaziantep wedding attack
A suicide bomber aged between 12 and 14 carried out the attack on a wedding party in the Turkish city of Gaziantep on Saturday (20 August) that killed at least 51 people, the president said.