Turkey voted on secularism or else (updated)

On July 22, 2007, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Turkey went to the polls earlier than expected. Formally, voting is about choosing a new parliament. In reality, it is about political Islam and secularism. As a high turn out voting ended, opinion polls suggest that with a 51% of votes, the government will remain in power for five more years. Its Justice and Development party (AKP) led by current Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has managed to keep economic growth of 7%, reduce inflation, increase foreign investments and gain access to EU. The question now is whether it can secure an absolute majority in the 540-seat Parliament.  Erdogan wishes to win an absolute majority; if not, he has warned with a political retirement.  <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

As a campaign strategy, Erdogan revamped AKP by retiring right wing religious AKP members of Parliament; intellectuals, professionals and even left wing politicians and social democrats, substituted them. a "reformist" platform was set up for a wider electorate.  These actions brought AKP closer to the political center and more secular.  This early general elections were triggered after AKP nominated Abdullah Gul, Turkish Foreign Minister and a publicly devoted Muslim, for President. He was to replace President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. This nomination angered the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the ultra-conservative Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). They claimed AKP wanted to impose an Iranian-style theocracy.  It then used the issue of secularism in Turkey to forward its power strategies. Street protests and a boycotted presidential vote in parliament, forced the government to call for early elections. 

Secularism is a rather dear issue in Turkey. It was used by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk to set up a Turkish secular State. If AKP wins an absolute majority in Parliament, Gul will certainly stand up for the Presidency. If the opposition retains or increases its seats in Parliament, AKP will work for a “consensus” candidate for the Presidency. Gull aspirations will be diluted. In the near future, there are few important issues to tackle: a 10% unemployment, recent income disparity, a new constitution, peaceful relations with Kurds, Iraq, Cyprus, human rights and democracy.  

PS: Later today, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced his AKP party has obtained a slide victory of almost 50% of the votes or a majority at Parliament.

Sources: The New Anatolian, Turkish Daily News, Hurriyet, Aljazeera, BBC, Asia Times Herald Tribune Presidency of TurkeyLe Figaro Le Monde New York Times RFI PR Inside