Turkey's president has rejoined the ruling party he co-founded in a step on his path toward solidifying his grip on power, following his narrow victory in last month's referendum boosting the presidential office.
Most of the constitutional changes ushering in a presidential system, approved in the April 16 referendum, will take effect after the November 2019 election.
But an amendment that reverses a requirement for the president to be non-partisan and cut ties with their party come into effect immediately, allowing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to return to the Islamic-rooted Justice and Development Party, or AKP.
The party is expected to re-elect Erdogan as its chairman at an extraordinary congress on May 21.
Erdogan, who was prime minister between 2003 and 2014, was forced to resign from the AKP when he became president but continued to lead the party from behind the scenes.
The changes formalise a de facto situation but also allow him to maintain a tighter grip on the party.
Critics fears the change will lead to a one-man authoritarian rule with too few checks and balances. Erdogan and his supporters argue that a strong presidency will bring stability and more efficient government.
