Turkey court convenes over presidential vote

ANKARA – Turkey’s top court convened yesterday to rule on disputed presidential elections that sparked a political crisis between the Islamist-rooted government and the army over the country’s secular order.

Turkish shares and the currency tumbled for a second day as investors grew worried over the implications of the Constitutional Court’s expected ruling on whether to annul a first round of voting held in parliament on Friday. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, a former Islamist and the candidate for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is the only contender in the race.Constitutional Court President Tulay Tugcu said the 11 judges were planning to announce their verdict later yesterday.The court was petitioned by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) after Gul narrowly missed becoming the next head of state in Friday’s vote.Within hours, the army issued a statement saying it was ready to act to protect the secular order.In response, the government sharply reminded the army that it was under civilian orders and Gul said he would not withdraw from the race.The secularists, which include the army, suspect the AKP of having an Islamist agenda and fear the influence of Islam will grow and threaten the republic’s secular order if Gul is elected.The CHP argues that Friday’s vote should be cancelled because there were not enough lawmakers in the 550-seat assembly to make it legal.It maintains that the constitution requires the attendance of at least 367 lawmakers, or a two-thirds majority, in the first round of voting.According to parliament minutes, 361 lawmakers were present.The AKP argues that the usual quorum of 184 suffices.If the court rules that Friday’s vote was in order, parliament will hold a second round of voting today in which Gul will likely fail once again to garner the required 367 votes to become president.Nampa-AFPForeign Minister Abdullah Gul, a former Islamist and the candidate for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), is the only contender in the race.Constitutional Court President Tulay Tugcu said the 11 judges were planning to announce their verdict later yesterday.The court was petitioned by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) after Gul narrowly missed becoming the next head of state in Friday’s vote.Within hours, the army issued a statement saying it was ready to act to protect the secular order.In response, the government sharply reminded the army that it was under civilian orders and Gul said he would not withdraw from the race.The secularists, which include the army, suspect the AKP of having an Islamist agenda and fear the influence of Islam will grow and threaten the republic’s secular order if Gul is elected.The CHP argues that Friday’s vote should be cancelled because there were not enough lawmakers in the 550-seat assembly to make it legal.It maintains that the constitution requires the attendance of at least 367 lawmakers, or a two-thirds majority, in the first round of voting.According to parliament minutes, 361 lawmakers were present.The AKP argues that the usual quorum of 184 suffices.If the court rules that Friday’s vote was in order, parliament will hold a second round of voting today in which Gul will likely fail once again to garner the required 367 votes to become president.Nampa-AFP