Turkey set to elect new president

ANKARA – Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul was expected to be voted Turkey’s new president yesterday in what would be a major triumph for his Islamic-rooted government after months of confrontation with the secular establishment.

Gul’s election is widely acknowledged as all but certain, even by his opponents, and would make him the first head of state with a background in political Islam in a country with strong secularist principles. His initial bid for president was blocked over fears that he planned to dilute secular traditions.Gul failed to win the presidency in two rounds of voting last week because the ruling Justice and Development party lacked the two-thirds majority in Parliament needed for him to secure the post.But the party – which holds 341 of the 550 seats – had a far easier hurdle yesterday, when only a simple majority is required.Gul, 56, has promised to uphold secularism.But Turkey’s president has the power to veto legislation, and Gul has failed to allay secularist fears that he would sign into law any legislation passed by the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan – a close ally – without concern for the separation of religion and politics.Also, his wife wears an Islamic-style head scarf – which is banned in government offices and schools.Islamic attire has been restricted in Turkey since the country’s first president, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, ushered in secularism and Western-style reforms in the 1930s.Nampa-APHis initial bid for president was blocked over fears that he planned to dilute secular traditions.Gul failed to win the presidency in two rounds of voting last week because the ruling Justice and Development party lacked the two-thirds majority in Parliament needed for him to secure the post.But the party – which holds 341 of the 550 seats – had a far easier hurdle yesterday, when only a simple majority is required.Gul, 56, has promised to uphold secularism.But Turkey’s president has the power to veto legislation, and Gul has failed to allay secularist fears that he would sign into law any legislation passed by the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan – a close ally – without concern for the separation of religion and politics.Also, his wife wears an Islamic-style head scarf – which is banned in government offices and schools.Islamic attire has been restricted in Turkey since the country’s first president, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, ushered in secularism and Western-style reforms in the 1930s.Nampa-AP