Abdullah Gül

After Abdullah Gül fell short of winning enough votes in the second ballot of the presidential elections on Friday, he will have to wait for the third round on Tuesday, where he is likely to win.

After Prime Minister Erdogan said on television that those who could not accept Abdullah Gül as president should give up Turkish citizenship and leave the country, the CHP, the EU and newspaper columnists have reacted.

Assistant Professor Caliskan points out that the AKP and the army are not so different in essence. He does not predict a big crisis, but rather a rapprochement. As the AKP moves to the political centre, the left will either disappear or have to redefine itself.

Following the comments journalist Metehan Demir made in an interview in the "Radikal" newspaper, the General Staff has published a press release on its website denouncing his claims as "lies". Demir stands behind his analysis.

The Turkish Parliament today voted in the first round of the presidential elections which had been postponed after the boycott in April. Ruling AKP's candidate Gül failed to secure a two-thirds majority and expected to win in the third round.

Chief of General Staff Yasar Büyükanit has vowed to stay silent on the presidential elections, the first ballot of which is due this afternoon. Prof. Mithat Sancar has intepreted this silence as a deliberate change in tactics.

Abdullah Gül has formally applied to the parliament presidency for his candidacy. In a press statement he said that he would obey the principle of neutrality and protect the basic elements of the constitution: I will keep the promises I made.

Despite the CHPs strong reaction towards Güls announcement of his renewed candidacy, academics Tosun and Baskaya have interpreted recent developments as a kind of compromise between AKP and the state, the army and the bureaucratic guardian elite.

CHP vice chairperson Özyürek has stated that the CHP will not enter parliament for the presidential elections. Should Gül become president, they would not join receptions at the residence or trips abroad. The AKP is trying to take revenge.

A survey of people in the streets of Karaköy and Tophane, in central Istanbul, showed that there were mixed feelings about Güls candidacy. Those that welcomed it did not fear for the laicism of Turkey. Others spoke longingly of military intervention.

At yesterdays meeting of the AKPs central executive council, Gül announced his renewed candidature for the presidency. He was supported by Prime Minister Erdogan. CHP chairperson Baykal reacted furiously.