Turkish PM defiant in face of army warning on secularism
2007-04-28 07:16:09.0
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stood firm Saturday after the army warned it would act to defend Turkey's secular system amid fears that the country's next president would favour Islam.
The European Union, which Turkey is seeking to join, urged the army -- responsible for three past coups -- not to interfere in the democratic process as tensions mounted over the prospect of a former Islamist becoming head of state.
The army spoke out hours after parliament, dominated by Erdogan's AKP party, held an inconclusive first-round vote boycotted by the oppposition Friday to elect a new president, with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul the sole candidate.
Saying it was "concerned" over the election, the army added, "It should not be forgotten that the Turkish armed forces are a party to this debate and staunch defenders of secularism.
"The Turkish armed forces... will openly and clearly display their position and attitude when necessary. No one should doubt this."
In his first, albeit oblique, reaction to the statement, Erdogan retorted that the nation would oppose actions that would hurt political stability.
"This nation has paid a heavy, painful price when the base of stability and confidence has been lost. But it no longer allows, nor will it allow, opportunists who are waiting and paving the way for a disaster," he said.
Speaking to the Turkish Red Crescent, he never referred directly to the army or its communique.
Immediately afterwards, he convened a meeting with Gul and some cabinet ministers, the CNN-Turk news channel reported.
The AKP's nomination of Gul has sharpened the divide between the government and the secularists who fear that the strict separation of state and religion will be eroded if he is elected.
Many remain unconvinced by AKP arguments that it has disawoved its Islamist past and fear the government will have a free hand to implement an Islamist agenda if the party seizes the presidency as well.
The Turkish armed forces, which see themselves as guardians of the secular system, seized power in 1960, 1971 and 1980 and forced the resignation in 1997 of the country's first Islamist prime minister, Necmettin Erbakan.
The main opposition Republican People's Party, which rejects the idea of a former Islamist becoming president, late Friday petitioned the Constitutional Court to cancel the first round of voting, citing violation of a quorum rule.
If the court annuls the vote, general elections -- currently scheduled for November 4 -- must be called within 90 days.
The Turkish press on Saturday urged early elections to prevent a deep crisis, as EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn advised the army to stay out of politics.
"This is a test case if the Turkish armed forces respect democratic secularism and the democratic arrangement of civil-military relations," he said in Brussels.
Erdogan's critics say he is abusing his nearly two-thirds parliamentary majority, garnered with only one third of the vote in the 2002 elections -- thanks to Turkey's much-criticized electoral system -- to put an Islamist in the hitherto secular presidency.
In Friday's vote, Gul fell 10 votes short of the two-thirds majority of 367 required in the first round of balloting.
If the Constitutional Court does not cancel the vote, parliament will hold a second round on Wednesday, probably with a similar result, but Gul is almost sure to be elected in the third round on May 9, when an absolute majority of 276 will suffice.
Dozens of non-governmental organizations have called for a rally in Istanbul Sunday to show their support for the secular system, similar to one in Ankara two weeks ago that attracted up to 1.5 million people, acording to some estimates.
The AKP was born out of Erbakan's party, banned for anti-secular activities the year after it was ousted from power, but argues that it has since evolved and is committed to the secular system.
Secularists cite its unsuccessful attempts to criminalise adultery, restrict alcohol sales and lift a ban on Islamic headscarves in government offices and universities as evidence that the party has not changed.
burs-han/sf/mb
Turkey-politics-vote
AFP 281205 GMT 04 07 COPYRIGHT 2002 Agence France-Presse. All rights reserved.
2007-04-28 07:16:09.0
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stood firm Saturday after the army warned it would act to defend Turkey's secular system amid fears that the country's next president would favour Islam.
The European Union, which Turkey is seeking to join, urged the army -- responsible for three past coups -- not to interfere in the democratic process as tensions mounted over the prospect of a former Islamist becoming head of state.
The army spoke out hours after parliament, dominated by Erdogan's AKP party, held an inconclusive first-round vote boycotted by the oppposition Friday to elect a new president, with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul the sole candidate.
Saying it was "concerned" over the election, the army added, "It should not be forgotten that the Turkish armed forces are a party to this debate and staunch defenders of secularism.
"The Turkish armed forces... will openly and clearly display their position and attitude when necessary. No one should doubt this."
In his first, albeit oblique, reaction to the statement, Erdogan retorted that the nation would oppose actions that would hurt political stability.
"This nation has paid a heavy, painful price when the base of stability and confidence has been lost. But it no longer allows, nor will it allow, opportunists who are waiting and paving the way for a disaster," he said.
Speaking to the Turkish Red Crescent, he never referred directly to the army or its communique.
Immediately afterwards, he convened a meeting with Gul and some cabinet ministers, the CNN-Turk news channel reported.
The AKP's nomination of Gul has sharpened the divide between the government and the secularists who fear that the strict separation of state and religion will be eroded if he is elected.
Many remain unconvinced by AKP arguments that it has disawoved its Islamist past and fear the government will have a free hand to implement an Islamist agenda if the party seizes the presidency as well.
The Turkish armed forces, which see themselves as guardians of the secular system, seized power in 1960, 1971 and 1980 and forced the resignation in 1997 of the country's first Islamist prime minister, Necmettin Erbakan.
The main opposition Republican People's Party, which rejects the idea of a former Islamist becoming president, late Friday petitioned the Constitutional Court to cancel the first round of voting, citing violation of a quorum rule.
If the court annuls the vote, general elections -- currently scheduled for November 4 -- must be called within 90 days.
The Turkish press on Saturday urged early elections to prevent a deep crisis, as EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn advised the army to stay out of politics.
"This is a test case if the Turkish armed forces respect democratic secularism and the democratic arrangement of civil-military relations," he said in Brussels.
Erdogan's critics say he is abusing his nearly two-thirds parliamentary majority, garnered with only one third of the vote in the 2002 elections -- thanks to Turkey's much-criticized electoral system -- to put an Islamist in the hitherto secular presidency.
In Friday's vote, Gul fell 10 votes short of the two-thirds majority of 367 required in the first round of balloting.
If the Constitutional Court does not cancel the vote, parliament will hold a second round on Wednesday, probably with a similar result, but Gul is almost sure to be elected in the third round on May 9, when an absolute majority of 276 will suffice.
Dozens of non-governmental organizations have called for a rally in Istanbul Sunday to show their support for the secular system, similar to one in Ankara two weeks ago that attracted up to 1.5 million people, acording to some estimates.
The AKP was born out of Erbakan's party, banned for anti-secular activities the year after it was ousted from power, but argues that it has since evolved and is committed to the secular system.
Secularists cite its unsuccessful attempts to criminalise adultery, restrict alcohol sales and lift a ban on Islamic headscarves in government offices and universities as evidence that the party has not changed.
burs-han/sf/mb
Turkey-politics-vote
AFP 281205 GMT 04 07 COPYRIGHT 2002 Agence France-Presse. All rights reserved.
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