Turkey facing political collapse
by Hande Culpan in Ankara
TURKEY is facing a political crisis after the Islamist-rooted Government clashed with the army over the latter's threat of action to defend the country's secular regime.
The row erupted after Parliament began voting on Friday on a new president in a process where the sole candidate is a former Islamist fielded by the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Justice and Development Party.
The prospect of the candidate, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, becoming head of state alarmed secularists about Islam creeping into all fields of life and prompted the opposition to boycott the vote, robbing the Government of the required two-thirds majority.
The staunchly secularist Turkish army then issued a harsh warning against questioning the country's secular system and said it would “openly display its position and attitudes when it becomes necessary.”
The Government sharply called the army to order yesterday and the European Union urged it not to interfere in the candidate country's democratic process while Opposition parties called for early elections to resolve the crisis.
“I would like to underline that it is inconceivable in a democratic state based on the rule of law for the general staff, which remains under the orders of the prime minister, to speak out against the Government,” government spokesman and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said.
“The primary duty in protecting the basic tenets of the state falls on the Government,” he said.
Secularists 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 controls the presidency.
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Turkey Gov't Dismisses Military's Claim
By SUZAN FRASER
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- The pro-Islamic government on Saturday rejected a stern warning from the military over Turkey's disputed presidential election, calling it unacceptable in a democracy.
It was a rare retort against powerful institution that has long guarded Turkey's secular traditions - and has intervened before to force out an Islamic leader. The European Union called the election a test of the military's respect for democracy as Turkey seeks to join the bloc.
The ruling party candidate failed to win a first-round victory Friday in a parliamentary vote marked by tensions between secularists and the Islamic-rooted government. Most opposition legislators boycotted the vote and challenged its validity in the Constitutional Court.
The military said it was gravely concerned and indicated it was willing to become more openly involved in the process - a statement some interpreted as an ultimatum to the government to rein in officials who promote Islamic initiatives.
"It is unthinkable for an institution like the military ... to make any statement against the government on any issue in a democratic state," said Justice Minister Cemil Cicek.
The election has contributed to a sense of polarization in a country that has enjoyed relative economic and political stability for years and is seeking entry into the European Union.
Although the post is mostly ceremonial, the president can veto legislation and has been a stronghold for secularists worried about the Islamic tilt of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government.
In a country founded on secular principles, the ruling party has supported religious schools and tried to lift the ban on Islamic head scarves in public offices.
The government party candidate, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, has promised to uphold secular traditions, and has been an energetic promoter of the EU bid.
But opposition leaders doubt Gul would be a vigorous check on the government. Outgoing President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, a staunch secularist, vetoed a record number of legislative bills and appointments of officials deemed pro-Islamic.
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Pertinent Links:
1) Turkey facing political collapse
2) Turkey Gov't Dismisses Military's Claim
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