Turkish Return Islamist Party to Power - VOA Story

General elections in Turkey on July 22nd returned an Islamist party to power, but the vote may have been less a turn away from secular rule than a desire for economic stability. The ruling Justice and Development Party, the AKP, won nearly 47 percent of the vote and at least 340 seats in the 550-member parliament. But that is short of the two-thirds majority needed to elect a president without opposition support and the presidential balloting could re-ignite political divisions in the weeks ahead.

Turkey sees itself as a bridge between Europe and Asia. Here at the straits of the Bosporus, people move easily from one continent to the other.

Political transitions are often not so smooth.

Elections went off without a hitch, but the campaign was heated and often bitter -- and showed rifts within the society --divisions between religious and secular, traditional and modern.

On the surface a major issue is the symbolism shown by the Islamic headscarf.

But at the core is Turkey's identity and its very foundation as a modern, secular state.

With the election results, voters showed little fear that the AKP would impose the religious beliefs of its leaders.

Instead, voters chose the AKP's promise of economic stability, more foreign investment and continued talks with the European Union.

Despite assurances by the AKP's leaders that they have no intention to turn Turkey into an Islamic state, deep political differences remain and could re-surface in the coming weeks.

Choosing a president will be the first test of the new parliament, says political scientist, Ali Carkoglu. "If the parliamentary elites fail to cooperate on that first issue, it's likely that we're going to have to have another election, but it's a very small likelihood. "

It is doubtful any of the parties want to go through another election and risk alienating those voters looking for stability.

Despite their solid victory, the AKP does not have the necessary two-thirds majority in parliament to push through its presidential choice.

And so it will have to cooperate and compromise. That seems to be just what Turkish voters wanted.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Turkey
• President
• Islam
• Muslim
• Turkish
• Politics
• Ataturk
• AKP

[SABLJA89]

Bosnia, Kosovo, Sandzak are ready to join Turkiye as soon they bring Sharia! As salamu aleykum to all brothers and sisters

[AdamJesusOmarAli]

Islam is best! Attaturk is a pig!

[Souldjah008]

@ConFalcata Do your home work! Atatürk ? what a such Zionist Agent!!!

[Souldjah008]

@ConFalcata Religion(ISSLAAM) is Over Culture or Race (: Free your Mind homie!

[ConFalcata]

Zionist Agent or Arab agent both of you are semitic and iam a Anti-Semitic.Atatürk was 100% Yörük Turk,this is a proven fact.

[ConFalcata]

@Souldjah008 Turks did not write Arabic,we had our Orkhon Alphabet.After the defeated against the Ummayad Caliphate,Islam was forced on us and also their hole culture,letters and even Names.How many Muslims give their childre Pre-Islamic names today?They all have arab names.Shame on them who sell their hole Identity for a religion.

[Souldjah008]

@ConFalcata may you dont knows that turks write Arabic before! but a pig(Ataturk) came with a Zionnist propaganda and change your Identity and it's was a first step to stole your identity! when i talks about identity, i mean who really are you? a Turk or Ottoman never write Latino but Arabic lettres, secular is newOLD fake weak Satanic IDEOLOGY... Be free,man! dont let them Dont let them fool ya, Or even try to school ya! you got a mind of your own! PeaCe!

[Souldjah008]

@ConFalcata it's shame when your pied pipper is just an Zionist Agent (: ... :)

[ConFalcata]

@Souldjah008 my real identity is turkish and not the arabic yoke of 500 years ottoman Shariah.We are adopting our pre-islamic identity...

[Souldjah008]

@ConFalcata ... who is the secular Snake which is Stole your Real identity,check into your past... the Enemy is within ...

-.-

Ssalaam 7abibi..

[ConFalcata]

@Souldjah008 watch your mouth arab.You won't change this country into a backwarded religious lizard eating shithole like your countrys.

[ConFalcata]

@KilluminatiMujahad being white is a Color not a religion.Iam already white,since I got dark blonde hairs and hazel eyes.I don't remember that this phenotype is considered as non white you spanish Arab.You guys are like christian arabs,only your culture is recognized White.