Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has announced his resignation, clearing the way for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to pursue a tighter grip on power.
Davutoglu's resignation will not take effect until May 22 when the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) holds a snap congress to replace him as party leader.
Erdogan also is a member of the AKP. But the two recently have fallen out with public disagreements on how to deal with Kurdish militants in southeastern Turkey.
Davutoglu had hinted at the possibility of resuming a peace process with Kurds in southeastern Turkey.
But Erdogan is committed to a military campaign.
During the past week, a parliamentary committee in Turkey approved a draft bill proposed by the AKP that would strip legislators of their immunity from prosecution.
Erdogan is pushing for the prosecution on terrorism charges of lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP).
Erdogan also has been pushing for constitutional amendments that would strengthen his presidential powers.