Turkish parliament head hands over post to interim speaker

The ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's Istanbul mayoral candidate Binali Yıldırım handed over his reins to interim Parliament Speaker Celal Adan on Tuesday.

"Over the last seven months, I tried hard to work in a harmony with all groups with the principle of less controversy and more consensus, which was based on reconciliation.

"I have peace of mind when I am leaving the office today," Yıldırım told reporters at the parliament during the handover ceremony.

He said that the Turkish parliament will continue to step up under the new presidential government system, adopted in an April 2017 referendum.

Before his resignation, Yıldırım submitted two motions to the office on animal rights and technology dependence to be researched.

Adan, for his part, said that Yıldırım leaving his post in the parliament to serve for Turkey's largest metropolis Istanbul.

"As a citizen living in Istanbul, I think that your new journey is a chance for Istanbul and Turkey," Adan said.

Parliament is expected to elect a new speaker on Sunday, Feb. 24 in a secret ballot.

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) announced that it will support the candidate of the ruling AK Party for parliament speaker.

In the first two rounds of voting, at least 401 out of 600 deputies' votes are needed to win the speaker post.

In a third round of voting, if necessary, only 301 votes are needed, and in a possible fourth round, a simple majority suffices to win.