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Turkish Premier Vows To Pursue Reform Following Victory

July 23, 2007 -- Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to pursue reforms and turn Turkey into a modern democracy after his ruling Justice and Development (AK) party won early parliamentary elections on July 22.

With more than 99 percent of the votes counted, the AK party has won over 46 percent of the vote -- more than double that of its nearest rival. That would translate into 340 seats in the 550-member parliament.

Erdogan spoke late on July 22 to thousands of supporters outside the AK party's headquarters in the capital, Ankara. He said that "unity, democracy, and the republic have emerged stronger from the ballot box."

He also promised to pursue Turkish membership in the European Union. "We will consistently continue to work toward EU membership in accordance with the goals of our republic," he said. "Our nation's interests and desire for a better life will always be our guide and our goal."

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso congratulated Erdogan today and noted his commitment to closer EU ties.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband called for the EU to "reach out" to the new government in Turkey. The Vatican said the outcome of the election is "the best result for Europe and the Christian churches."

Only two other parties crossed the 10 percent threshold into parliament -- the secular Republican People's Party (CHP) on 20.9 percent (112 seats in parliament) and the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) with 14.2 percent (71 seats). Several mainly Kurdish independent candidates also won seats in the assembly.

The snap election was called by Erdogan to defuse a political crisis over the Islamist-oriented ruling party's choice of presidential candidate.

The county's powerful military and secular parties had objected to the candidacy of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, saying Turkey's secularism was in danger, a claim denied by the AK party.

(compiled from agency reports)

Copyright (c) 2007. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org