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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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8

Islamists Lose Ground in Turkish Election

Government suffers setback as voters turn to secular parties

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(Newser) – Turkey's Islamist-leaning AK Party won local elections yesterday, but fell short of the overwhelming victory leaders had hoped for, reports the Los Angeles Times. With most of the votes counted, the party of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan won 39% of the vote, but lost ground to secularists in Istanbul and other big cities. "This is a message from the people, and we will take the necessary lessons," said a disappointed prime minister.

This is the first poll setback for the popular Erdogan since coming to power in 2002. Observers said that the struggling economy may have contributed to his fall in support, an 8-point decline from the last election. The election was marred by violence as clashes broke out in various sites across Turkey, killing five people and injuring dozens.

Supporters of the main opposition Republican People's Party demonstrate in Istanbul last week.
Supporters of the main opposition Republican People's Party demonstrate in Istanbul last week.   (AP Photo/Murad Sezer)
Supporters of the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, wave Turkish and party flags in Istanbul last week. The party fell 8 points from its previous result.
Supporters of the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, wave Turkish and party flags in Istanbul last week. The party fell 8 points from its previous result.   (AP Photo / Ibrahim Usta)
Full results from Turkey's local elections show Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamic-rooted AKP has lost political ground.
Full results from Turkey's local elections show Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's Islamic-rooted AKP has lost political ground.   (AP Photo)
An elderly man waits to cast his vote at a polling station in Istanbul yesterday.
An elderly man waits to cast his vote at a polling station in Istanbul yesterday.   (AP Photo/Murad Sezer)
Turkey's President Abdullah Gul receives his ballot papers at a polling station in a primary school in Ankara yesterday.
Turkey's President Abdullah Gul receives his ballot papers at a polling station in a primary school in Ankara yesterday.   (AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici)
An elderly woman prepares to cast her ballot at a polling station in Istanbul.
An elderly woman prepares to cast her ballot at a polling station in Istanbul.   (AP Photo/Murad Sezer)
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8 comments
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NutsInNY
Mar 30, 09 4:57 AM CDT
Anyone for an analogy to the decline of the Christianist, party of fear in America? Reply
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wwwonderer
Mar 30, 09 9:40 AM CDT
Looks like secularism is spreading. Sounds good to me.
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shonangreg
Mar 30, 09 8:38 PM CDT
I think you may be onto something, NutsInNY. People do become more fervent in their religion when they feel their religion is being threatened. When President Bush was advocating a crusade, Muslims around the world had good reason to fear. With the tremendous relaxation in America's belligerence under President Obama, the rest of the world can rest easier. They do not need to posture so defensively. *Relative* peace has broken out.
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Forderon
Apr 1, 09 12:54 AM CDT
Hence, "clinging to guns and religion"
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shonangreg
Sep 12, 09 10:57 PM CDT
Test. 3,000 character limit on posts here. And how about character width? ............................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890 Reply
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