2 0 ▁December ▁ 1 9 5 5 ) ▁is ▁a ▁Turkish ▁politician ▁who ▁served ▁as ▁the ▁ 2 7 th ▁and ▁last ▁Prime ▁Minister ▁of ▁Turkey ▁from ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁to ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁and ▁Spe aker ▁of ▁the ▁Grand ▁National ▁Assembly ▁from ▁ 2 0 1 8 ▁to ▁ 2 0 1 9 . ▁He ▁was ▁Le ader ▁of ▁the ▁Justice ▁and ▁Development ▁Party ▁( AK P ) ▁from ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁to ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁then ▁becoming ▁parliament ary ▁leader ▁until ▁ 2 0 1 8 . ▁ ▁Y ı ld ı r ı m ▁served ▁as ▁chairman ▁of ▁the ▁board ▁of ▁Direct ors ▁of ▁ İ stan bul ▁Fast ▁Fer ries ▁Company ▁( İ DO ) ▁from ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁to ▁ 2 0 0 0 ▁before ▁being ▁elected ▁as ▁an ▁A K P ▁Member ▁of ▁Parliament ▁for ▁ İ stan bul ' s ▁first ▁elect oral ▁district ▁during ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁general ▁election . ▁He ▁was ▁appointed ▁as ▁Minister ▁of ▁Transport ▁by ▁Prime ▁Minister ▁Abd ul lah ▁G ül ▁and ▁continued ▁in ▁office ▁after ▁Er do ğ an ▁became ▁Prime ▁Minister ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 3 . ▁As ▁Transport ▁Minister , ▁he ▁pres ided ▁over ▁numerous ▁projects ▁such ▁as ▁Mar mar ay , ▁high - speed ▁rail ▁lines ▁and ▁an ▁expansion ▁in ▁the ▁country ' s ▁air port ▁and ▁road ▁facilities , ▁though ▁received ▁heavy ▁criticism ▁and ▁calls ▁for ▁his ▁res ignation ▁following