Posted on 05/06/2007 6:18:51 PM PDT by Cornpone
Former Islamist Abdullah Gul withdrew his candidacy for Turkey's presidency on Sunday after pressure from the military and demonstrators who accuse his ruling party of subverting the nation's secular order.
A dispirited-looking Gul made the move that could ease a crisis in Turkey after his ruling AK party failed to gain a quorum in parliament to elect him.
"After this ... my candidacy is out of the question," Foreign Minister Gul told reporters after the roll-call in parliament. "I don't feel resentment."
Gul, leading architect of Turkey's EU membership bid, has not yet formally withdrawn, but the next president is now expected to be elected only after early general polls on July 22. He was the only candidate.
His bid, backed by the AK party, revealed a deep divide over the future direction of Turkey, which has a strongly secular constitution but a predominantly Muslim population.
Parliament elects presidents for a single seven-year term.
The AK Party is expected to win the next general election, according to opinion polls, but it is too early to say whether they will be able to form a single party government again.
Analysts say a general election win should give the party legitimacy to put forward their presidential candidate through parliament or a popular vote.
The NATO-member has seen a wave of large protests by secularists who demanded Gul withdraw his candidacy. That was accompanied by rising alarm in the military at the prospect of a former Islamist becoming president and commander-in-chief.
The military, which along with the judiciary and universities make up the core of the secular elite, has issued a public reminder it is the ultimate defender of the secular state. The army has removed four civilian governments in 50 years in a nation which now hopes for European Union membership.
Gul later told a news conference his candidacy had enjoyed broad support from the public but his election had been stymied by an opposition boycott. He made no reference to the military.
WORRIES OVER ARABISATION
"Many Turks are happy with the secular system and used to a lifestyle people have had for 100 years. They are worried that an Arabisation of society may take place," Semih Idiz, a columnist at liberal daily Milliyet, told Reuters.
The AK Party, which has Islamist origins but denies an Islamist agenda now, failed to muster the 367 deputies required to vote because most opposition parties boycotted the session.
Last week, the high court annulled a first round ballot and ruled that two-thirds of the chamber had to be present.
Fighting back, the government organised a re-vote, called early general elections, and is now pushing for constitutional amendments that would let the public, rather than parliament, elect the president for a maximum of two five-year terms.
Parliament is now expected to call the presidential election process invalid.
A divide has emerged between Turks who want to preserve the strict separation of mosque and state and a growing class of more religiously-minded people who want a relaxation of curbs on religious symbols and expression.
Gul's withdrawal marks the AK Party's first major defeat since it swept to power in 2002 amid a deep financial crisis.
With a majority in parliament, the party has promoted economic reforms in a drive to join the EU, wooed foreign investors and improved Turkey's record on human rights.
But critics fear that once the party takes the presidency it will control all major state institutions. To end the standoff, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan is appealing directly to the people in elections on July 22, brought forward from November 4.
"The only point of stability, the only concept we can have some faith in are the citizens of this country," said Egemen Bagis, an AK Party lawmaker and Erdogan adviser. "It will be up to the Turkish nation to decide whom they want to govern them."
Erdogan is also pushing for the constitutional amendments to overhaul the process of presidential elections. Such a radical move could renew tensions with the armed forces, analysts say.
Parliament will vote on the amendments this week and the next president could be elected by popular vote in 2007. But the changes could face legal challenges or be put to a referendum.
“”Many Turks are happy with the secular system and used to a lifestyle people have had for 100 years. They are worried that an Arabisation of society may take place,” Semih Idiz, a columnist at liberal daily Milliyet, told Reuters. “
They’re worried about Arabisation? No kidding. They’re happy with the secular system that has worked so well for 100 years? No kidding. Good for them. Too bad Nancy Pelosi and the Dems don’t get it.
What really happened to Gul was that the miltary high command made it clear that they would not allow him to stand for president.
“The AK party...islamists”
You can’t make this stuff up.
Yeah, wouldn’t it have been something if there had been 47 members?
Gul Buddeen, Gul Buddeen, Gul Buddeen...
That’s all folks!
I Bow to them ALL... (Turkey’s secular demonstrators)
Middle East Transparent ^ | 5/5/07 | Abir Zaki
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1829166/posts
They want neither Sharia, nor a coup, but a fully democratic Turkey.
First they demonstrated in Ankara, then in Istanbul, and today’s protest is the third in one month to be organized by supporters of Turkey’s secular constitution in the west… in Manisa
Another rally was held in the town of Canakkale.
And it will continue to Izmir, Bursa, and Adana…etc….
It will cover Turkey!
What’s happening in Turkey is incredible…
I bow to those people with their red national flags showed to the world that they are Free. Never minding the disorder and the confusion within the country these days because the are aware that it will produce at least one POSITIVE result and that’s abroad Turkey will be recognized as pluralist secular democracy! That they are Free!
(snip)
The question is whether Turkey is willing to abide by the rules of EU membership in order to join the EU.
Turkey must compy to the rules of membership, not the EU allowing selective exceptions to have membership at any cost.
BTTT!
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