Turkey's Erdogan returns as party ruler after referendum changes

Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) elected President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as its new chairman on Sunday, returning him to the post he held for over a decade up until August 2014, party officials said.

Erdogan, who was the only candidate for the job at a special AKP congress, takes over from Prime Minister Binali Yildirim as the party boss following constitutional changes agreed in an April referendum on expanding his powers.

Hayati Yazici, AKP deputy chairman, announced that Erdogan had received 1,414 votes from delegates and confirmed he would return as party leader, to cheers from the audience in the Ankara stadium.

Erdogan led the party from its establishment in August 2001 until he became the first directly-elected president in August 2014.

Between 2003 and 2014, he was prime minister for three terms leading what is by far the most effective Islamic-rooted political force in modern Turkish history.

But under the old constitution, the head of state had to sever ties with their political party and Erdogan in August 2014 left the AKP and stepped down as chairman after his election as president.

After the 16 April referendum on creating an executive presidency, Erdogan was able to rejoin the party and become chairman once more as he seeks to take control of the party and its direction.

Thousands of supporters from across Turkey crammed into the Ankara sports arena gave Erdogan a rock star-like reception at his first major party event since 2014.

In the next few months, from the fight against terror to the economy, from expanding rights and freedoms to investments, in every field, this new period will be a leap for Turkey. - Recep Tayyip Erdogan

In his speech after his election, Erdogan said the congress was a "new start" for Turkey and its citizens.

"We are together again after three years," Erdogan said in his candidate speech. "Our hearts were not divided... we lived as one heart."

In a thank you speech, Erdogan vowed the congress would mark a "new start" for Turkey.