ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Monday celebrated a decisive poll victory but now faces challenges over delayed presidential elections, Kurdish separatist violence and Ankara’s troubled EU bid.
Turkey's ruling AK Party supporters celebrate the results of the national elections in front of the party headquarters in Ankara, July 22, 2007. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
His AK Party boosted its share of the vote in Sunday’s parliamentary elections to 47 percent despite opposition efforts to portray his pro-business party, which has Islamist roots, as a Trojan horse set to turn Turkey into an Iran-style theocracy.
It was a personal triumph for Erdogan, who called the poll early after the army-backed secular elite blocked his choice of an ex-Islamist ally as the next president — the first divisive issue parliament must tackle after it convenes next week.
“We will resolve this matter (presidential election) without causing tensions,” Erdogan told a news conference.
Financial markets rallied on a result that keeps in power the party most favorable to foreign investment, without any need for coalition wrangling, but does not make it so strong as to provoke the army, guarantor of Turkey’s secular system.
The lira currency hit its highest levels against the dollar in more than two years, bonds soared and Istanbul’s stock exchange jumped five percent to a record close.
Although unofficial results gave the AK Party 47 percent of the vote, up more than 12 points on 2002, a stronger nationalist opposition means it will get 340 out of 550 seats, slightly fewer than now.
Parliament in one of the world’s few Muslim democracies will now feel very different, with ultra-nationalists and two dozen pro-Kurdish independents in for the first time in years.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband of Britain, an ally of Turkey in the EU, said: “It’s very important that across Europe we reach out to the new government in Turkey when it is formed. A stable and secure Turkey is massively in our interests.”
A U.S. State Department spokesman congratulated the Turkish people on holding what he said was a free and fair election.
“I would point out that we have had a very good working relationship with Prime Minister Erdogan and his government, and that we have faith in Turkey’s secular democracy,” he said.
Erdogan, controversial but popular, vowed in his victory speech to pursue political and economic reforms to join the European Union and made conciliatory noises towards his foes.
COMPROMISE PRESIDENT?
Turks are now watching to see if that turns into compromise over a choice of president to replace staunchly secular Ahmet Necdet Sezer, a fierce critic of the AK Party whose term is up.
A crisis was sparked when the army, which ousted an Islamist predecessor of Erdogan’s party 10 years ago, rejected the candidacy of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul as president, fearing he would erode the republic’s separation of religion and state.
“The only danger at the moment is failure to reach an accord over the presidency,” said Erdal Saglam, a columnist for the top-selling Hurriyet newspaper.
The prime minister said he would discuss with Gul, who was deeply disappointed at failing to secure the post earlier this year, whether he would remain the party’s candidate.
Influential State Minister Besir Atalay told Reuters that Gul, who helped secure Ankara’s EU accession talks, was still the best candidate to become head of state.
Erdogan must tread gingerly between supporters who hope his victory means fewer religious restrictions in public life, such as the ban on headscarves at university, and the army generals.
The AK Party, which likes to compare itself with Germany’s Christian Democrats, is expected to move more to the centre of Turkish politics after more liberal-minded members won seats.
Two other, secularist, parties made it into parliament — the nationalist Republican People’s Party (CHP) with 112 seats and the far-right National Movement Party (MHP) with 71.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said the government must press on with reforms required of Turkey in stalled EU entry talks. Once EU enthusiasts, Turks have grown cooler after rows over Cyprus and unpalatable domestic reforms.
Slideshow (11 Images)
Nationalists will resist more rights for ethnic and religious minorities as well as other reforms sought by the EU and will also press Erdogan to send troops into northern Iraq to root out Turkish Kurdish separatist rebels taking refuge there.
Turkish security forces have been battling the PKK rebels since 1984 in a conflict that has cost more than 30,000 lives.
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey secured a solid mandate in Turkish general election, held yesterday. Although Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan could celebrate getting 46.5% of the vote, more than 12% better than the last poll in 2002, his party will have to settle for slightly fewer seats in Turkey's parliament, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. AKP will now have 340 seats versus 353 formerly.

Before a cheering crowd, Erdoğan said yesterday: "We've passed an important test of democracy that is an example to the world. The people have pronounced the Justice and Development Party as the central political power in Turkey."
Abdullah Gül in 2005 
AKP called this election, ahead of schedule, after opposition parties boycotted the vote on AKP's presidential candidate, Abdullah Gül, and the Constitutional Court annulled the result. Speaking about the issue of the presidency, Erdoğan told a news conference: "We will resolve this matter without causing tensions."

United Kingdom Foreign Secretary David Miliband, said: "It's very important that across Europe we reach out to the new government in Turkey when it is formed. A stable and secure Turkey is massively in our interests."

In Washington, spokesperson Tony Snow said: "It was a free and fair election, and Turkey remains an important ally of the U.S."

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said the government must move forward on reforms as EU entry talks have stalled. "We expect the new government will be formed swiftly. It is essential that the new government will re-launch the legal and economic reforms with full determination and concrete results," he told reporters.

The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), saw the greatest growth in support. Although in 2002, they pulled nearly 6% in support it was not enough for any seats. The 14.3% achieved in this election, got the MHP 71 seats. The general secretary of the party said it won't seek to create tensions.

The Republican People's Party (CHP) was dealt the biggest setback in the election. CHP saw an erosion in support that cost them 66 seats, leaving them with 112. 

"The only danger at the moment is failure to reach an accord over the presidency," said election observer and columnist for Hürriyet, Erdal Saglam.