Points of View
Abdullah Gül : Atatürk’s successor
For the first time in Turkish History, a politician from the Islamic movement has reached the Presidency. It is a great victory for the AKP Party, despite hostilities form the Kemalist trend. Abdullah Gül’s first candidacy had launched a political crisis, culminating with enormous manifestations defending secularism, under the watchful eye of the Army.
Abdullah Gül, 56 years old, head of Turkish Diplomacy was born in Kayseri, a conservative stronghold located in central Anatolia. He studied economy in Istanbul and London, before heading of to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia where, between 1983 and 1991, he worked at the Islamic Development Bank. Back in Turkey, he launched himself into politics becoming an important member of Refah (party of prosperity) by Necmettin Erbakan, historical leader of Turkish Islamic politics. When Erbakan became Prime Minister in 1996, Gül was designated as State Minister and spokesman of the Government. But the success was of short duration as the army overthrew Abdullah Gül and his party in 1997. The end of Gül’s political formation in 1998 for “anti-secular activities” did not discourage him. He became a member of another party, the party of virtue (Fazilet) outlawed soon after.
Three years later, Abdullah Gül and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, then the Islamic Mayor of Istanbul, decided to launch a new movement, learning from their previous defeats and from the inability to openly confront the State and the Army. The AKP (Party for Justice and Development) presents itself as conservative with regards to moral values, but liberal when it comes to economics and especially pro-European. Religious references no longer dominate its discourse.
After the victory of the AKP, during the July 22nd 2007 legislative elections, Gül is adulated by a large potion of the population. But his stay in power is proving difficult, the military, the Bourgeoisie, the Seculars and the Bureaucrats all fear a secret Islamic agenda being put into place. Mistrust has invaded both camps.
Gül has confirmed his belief in the separation of State and Religion, and has affirmed the impartiality of his Presidency. He wants to reassure those who see him as a threat for secularism, by following the democratic reforms in Turkey, accelerating the project of a new Constitution, continuing Turkey’s bid to join the EU and by consolidating relations with the United States, especially with regards to the question of Turkish military intervention in the North of Iraq. It is worthy to note that Gül’s Turkey is expected to answer some questions with regards to its European candidacy for example, the respect of Human Rights, the recognition of the Armenian genocide, and it’s quarrel with Cyprus. And a very sensitive question, that of Kurdish rights.
Gül’s merit is without doubt the success of his own mutation and that of his party without giving up his programme, which made the glory of his party. But will Europe be able to overcome its doubts and give guarantees to the Turkish candidacy, which would perhaps send the military back to its barracks?
translated by Ines Ward - research assistant trainee at CERMAM
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- Origin CERMAM
- http://www.cermam.org/en/logs/vue/abdullah_guel_atatuerks_succes_1/
- Publié le 3 September 2007