Unrest Could Break Out in Turkey After Election of Abdullah Gul As President – Russian Expert

MOSCOW. Aug 28 (Interfax) – The election of Abdullah Gul as Turkish president could lead to an escalation of tensions in the country, said Alexei Malashenko of the Carnegie Center in Moscow.

“The situation inside Turkey will worsen, but the parties will look for a compromise,” the political scientist told Interfax on Tuesday.

The Turkish army, which traditionally has been a supporter of secularism, will adopt a wait-and-see attitude after the election of Gul, who is noted for his pro-Islamic views.

“There have been some unofficial warnings that if Gul makes reckless statements or if his wife wears a headscarf, that could upset the generals,” the political scientist said.

The election of Gul as president was “expected and more than predictable,” he added.

“The most interesting phase will begin in several months, when we’ll know the influence Gul will have on the government and how it will be perceived in Europe,” Malashenko said.

Europe’s position in this case is very important, he said.

“If Europe pushes Turkey away, Islamization will accelerate, but if it does not, moderate elements could reject radicalization,” the expert said.

Islamization has been a reality in Turkey for quite a long time, since the mid-1990s, he said.

“The paradox in the situation is that moderate Islamists, whose ideology is very close to radical movements such as the Muslim Brothers, are at the same time market-oriented and want to be in Europe,” Malashenko said.

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