Election victory for AKP must consolidate Turkey's democratic and secular future

11.18.20am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 23rd Jul 2007

Liberals and Democrats in the European Parliament congratulate Prime Minister Erdogan on his party's convincing victory in yesterday's state elections in which 80% of the population turned out to vote and call on him to use the opportunity to consolidate Turkey's democratic and secular future.

Graham Watson MEP (ALDE group leader) said:

"This is a good result for Turkey and a good result for Europe. It confirms that Turkey is on the path of democratic reform bringing Turkey and the EU closer together."

Andrew Duff MEP (UK, Lib Dem) and vice-president of the parliamentary delegation for relations with Turkey commented:

"Democracy was the principal victor in yesterday's elections in Turkey. Prime Minister Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party placed their faith in the hands of the people and have been rewarded."

"Turkey's generals should take this as a message to keep out of politics and allow Turkey to grow as a prosperous state, with its secularism protected by the ballot box rather than the military. Diehard Kemalists should catch up with modern Turkey."

Alexander Graf Lambsdorff MEP (FDP, Germany) and ALDE shadow rapporteur on Turkey in the Committee on Foreign Affairs, added:

"This election is but one step - albeit an important one - in a much deeper transformation of the Turkish state. The next step will be the presidential election process which will be more decisive when it comes to Turkey's democratic and secular future. Turkish-EU relations will very much depend on the outcome of these developments and Liberals and Democrats continue to follow them with great interest as Turkey continues to be an important neighbor and ally."