Please say hello to Turkey’s new President, Abdullah Gül:
Beaming as the votes were counted, a veteran government figure with roots in political Islam won a parliamentary vote to become Turkey’s president Tuesday, in defiance of the country’s strongly secular military. Abdullah Gul’s triumph presented Turkey’s generals with a choice: overthrow Gul in what would be a deeply unpopular coup or accommodate the rise of political Islam in the Muslim world’s most rigidly secular state.
Gul immediately sought to reassure the military and other doubters. “Turkey is a secular democracy. . . . These are basic values of our republic, and I will defend and strengthen these values,” he told parliament after taking the oath as Turkey’s 11th president.
Ellen Knickmeyer points out that “the popularity of Gul’s mildly Islamic Justice and Development Party after five years in power, and the unprecedented economic prosperity it has brought, will probably shield it from any immediate putsch.” Many people consider it to be quite unlikely that the military will stage – yet another – coup. Personally, I think that the military will act if it considers it necessary, but for now it seems that the military is taking a “lets wait and see what happens”-approach. Having said that, the army did send a clear message by not attending Gül swear-in ceremony yesterday. As a besides, his wife was also not present, most likely in an attempt to prevent secularists from bursting out in anger at the sight of a headscarved first lady attending this important political ceremony.
Knickmeyer also points out that the AK Parti is different from other Islamist organizations in, at least, one regard: while people in other Muslim countries voted for Islamist parties in protest of the other parties, Turkey’s voters did not cast a vote against the establishment as much as they rewarded the AK Parti “due to the services they have provided.”
Meanwhile, here are some columns written by Turkish columnists / journalists about Gül’s election / victory:
– “Everything comes up roses for ‘Uncle Tayyip’.”
– “Gül will make it easy.”
– “The first day.”
Also do not forget to read these articles:
– “Generals protest against Gül’s presidency.”
– “Gül elected Turkey’s president.”
– “Is Turkey Facing an ‘Islamist’ Future?”
– “AKP to Disavow Ataturk Principles.”>
H/t to Meltem and Hans for many of the links, also h/t to Holly.
