lance
08-07-2007, 01:56 AM
Kurds join new Turkish parliament
Pro-Kurdish parties took their parliamentary oaths in the Turkish language.
07 August 2007 (Reuters)
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Turkey's new parliament was sworn in with the Islamist-rooted ruling party keeping its majority after elections last month and pro-Kurdish deputies joining for the first time in 16 years.
The first big issue facing the parliament is choosing a new president and Turkey's secular establishment fears the AK party will now try to force through its own candidate.
Elections were brought forward after the army blocked AK Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's choice of an ex-Islamist ally - Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul - for president.
AK won 349 seats out of 549 and Erdogan is expected to return as prime minister.
"Abdullah Gul will probably continue his candidacy. Politics cannot play out without regard to the people's will," said Salih Kapusuz, head of the AK parliamentary group.
Gul's past and the fact that his wife wears a Muslim headscarf jar on some in the mostly Muslim but secular country, which hopes to win membership of the European Union.
Army chief Yasar Buyukanit has said the next president should be secular in name and in deed.
Pro-Kurdish parties took their parliamentary oaths in the Turkish language.
07 August 2007 (Reuters)
Print article Send to friend
Turkey's new parliament was sworn in with the Islamist-rooted ruling party keeping its majority after elections last month and pro-Kurdish deputies joining for the first time in 16 years.
The first big issue facing the parliament is choosing a new president and Turkey's secular establishment fears the AK party will now try to force through its own candidate.
Elections were brought forward after the army blocked AK Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's choice of an ex-Islamist ally - Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul - for president.
AK won 349 seats out of 549 and Erdogan is expected to return as prime minister.
"Abdullah Gul will probably continue his candidacy. Politics cannot play out without regard to the people's will," said Salih Kapusuz, head of the AK parliamentary group.
Gul's past and the fact that his wife wears a Muslim headscarf jar on some in the mostly Muslim but secular country, which hopes to win membership of the European Union.
Army chief Yasar Buyukanit has said the next president should be secular in name and in deed.