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Turkey vote goes to second round | Turkey vote goes to second round |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The frontrunner for Turkey's presidency Abdullah Gul has failed to secure a two-thirds majority in a first round of voting in the Turkish parliament. | The frontrunner for Turkey's presidency Abdullah Gul has failed to secure a two-thirds majority in a first round of voting in the Turkish parliament. |
Mr Gul, the foreign minister and a devout Muslim, is expected to win in a further round next week. | |
His candidacy has been fiercely resisted by secularists - including army generals and opposition leaders. | His candidacy has been fiercely resisted by secularists - including army generals and opposition leaders. |
Mr Gul's presidential bid forced a general election which his AK Party won by a landslide last month. | Mr Gul's presidential bid forced a general election which his AK Party won by a landslide last month. |
He has vowed to remain loyal to the country's secular constitution if elected. | He has vowed to remain loyal to the country's secular constitution if elected. |
In Monday's ballot he won 341 votes from the 550-seat house, 26 short of the two-thirds majority needed to win outright. | |
PRESIDENTIAL VOTE President chosen by 550 MPsTwo-thirds majority (367) needed to win in first or second roundSimple majority (276) needed if the contest reaches later rounds Q&A: Presidency battle Profile: Abdullah Gul Send us your comments | PRESIDENTIAL VOTE President chosen by 550 MPsTwo-thirds majority (367) needed to win in first or second roundSimple majority (276) needed if the contest reaches later rounds Q&A: Presidency battle Profile: Abdullah Gul Send us your comments |
The other two candidates, a right-wing nationalist and centre-left politician, received 70 and 13 votes respectively. | |
The largest opposition party, the CHP, boycotted the vote. | |
A second round is due on Friday. | |
In the third round of voting on 28 August a candidate only needs to secure a simple majority of votes - which the AKP has - but that could herald tense times ahead, reports the BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul. | |
The initial presidential vote in April also prompted a boycott by the opposition, in which Mr Gul was labelled a threat to the secular system. | |
Protesters took to the streets in protest at Mr Gul's candidacy and the military warned it was ready to step in. | Protesters took to the streets in protest at Mr Gul's candidacy and the military warned it was ready to step in. |
But since then, the AK Party has been returned to parliament with 46% of the vote. | But since then, the AK Party has been returned to parliament with 46% of the vote. |
Mr Gul says that is proof that most Turks do not believe he has an Islamic agenda. | Mr Gul says that is proof that most Turks do not believe he has an Islamic agenda. |
The military will be watching for his slightest slip, our correspondent says, and there is already furious debate because Mr Gul's wife wears the Islamic headscarf. | |
It is seen by some as a symbol of political Islam and is banned in all state institutions, including the presidential palace. | It is seen by some as a symbol of political Islam and is banned in all state institutions, including the presidential palace. |