Crisis rond presidentsschap Turkije duurt voort (en)

Turkey's foreign minister Abdullah Gul has withdrawn his presidency bid following a second failed attempt to get elected by the country's parliament, with opposition MPs boycotting him due to fears over his Islamist roots.

The presidential election held on Sunday (6 May) was declared invalid as fewer than two-thirds of 550 deputies were present at the vote.

Earlier this month, the country's constitutional court ruled that the parliamentary election required such a quorum, meaning that the first poll's result in favour of Mr Gul was annulled.

The governing Justice and Development party (AKP) of Turkey's prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reacted with dismay to the ruling and called an early general election - scheduled for 22 July.

Optimistic over its chances to win the elections, the AKP is also hopeful that it can introduce far-reaching constitutional changes, such as the popular vote for a president that would serve up to two five-year terms rather than one seven-year term.

Mr Gul has been quoted by media as suggesting he might re-run for president if the next vote is held by the people rather than the parliament.

His candidacy sparked numerous protests across Turkey with demonstrators suggesting his past involvement in Islamist politics should prevent him from standing for the country's top secular chair.

The military also threatened the AKP - the biggest parliamentary party - suggesting it might intervene if its candidate becomes president.

The army move prompted a warning from the European Commission, with enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn saying last week that any candidate country aspiring to join the EU should follow basic democratic criteria.

Brussels also openly welcomed Mr Erdogan's decision to hold an early parliamentary vote, suggesting it would contribute to the country's stability and democratic development.

Since winning power in 2002, the right-wing AKP - led by Mr Erdogan - has angered Turkish secularists, led by the military. Examples include the government's bid to outlaw adultery.

The Turkish army ousted four governments from power in the past four decades, in efforts to defend the separation of state and religion, the legacy of the state's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

As part of the EU accession process, there have been attempts to weaken the political powers of the military in Turkey.

However, Brussels' powers of persuasion have in the past proved strongest when Turkey and its people have felt that membership of the EU is a real possibility.

The Sunday victory of Nicolas Sarkozy in France as president - he is openly against Ankara's membership of the bloc - as well as the EU's decision last December to partially freeze the talks is likely to reduce Brussels' immediate political leverage.