In Turkey the winner is not democracy .The uneducated millions vote for islamic fascism. Their political opposites such as Emin Sirin politician is taken into prison a week after the elections. Emin Colasan a well known writer is sent from his newspaper.

aydan dogan, bursa, turkiye

I'm speechless because Hasan Dulagil - a Turk or of Turkish origion refers to Turkey as an Islamist state at present. Shame on you. While Turkey can't be described as a full demoncractic / secular state we know of and take for granted in the west, an Islamic country it isn't most certainly isn't and will never likely be. Then again Turkey has had democracy for less than 90 years!

kate, Newcastle, England

Whatever the result of this elections are, the winner is obvious. And that is the democracy in Turkey. Not only has it evolved into a strong reality of the modern Turkey, but it has also manefested the unique features. Those unique features allow to speak of the new phenomenon - "Turkish Democracy". It does not resempble other types of democracies, which does not make it any worse though.

Elnur Musayev, Baku, Azerbaijan

It is OK that the Islamist party has won. Watch out how they behave. Gul, whose wife wears Hijab is not the best candidate for the presidency. This is the problem with Islamist. They do not know how to live with any body who is liberal. Are they trying to force the secularists to divide the country? You have won, you have your prime minister, now select a more liberal person. Is it too much to ask? Slowly, they will end the secular dreams of Ataturk. EU? It must be a joke. May be Turkey can join the Arab league where women remain in the background playing second fiddle.

Sharlone, Nidderau, Germany

It amazes me. To call Turkey Islamist is overdone. Liqour is freely available in istanbul, in fact at a hotel i saw ladies sunbathing topless. The EU just does not like Turkey. The Turkish people are the most 'european" of the muslims, eat with knives and fooks, wine and liquor freely available, dress western, abandoned the persian script for latin text, helped europe through numerous of its battles. I am glad that Turkey is waking up to the fact that being with Europe and still being second classed is no good. Well done to the people of Turkiye and Mrs Gul. You make us proud.

Muhammad Ismail Omar, Durban, South Africa

As a woman I am afraid of my future. Gül's speeches and writing in the recent past show that he does not agree with the basic values of the republic. He said “The end of the republic has come. We will change the secular system,” “
Gul is a person whose bound by words but not by essence" to the principles of the Republic

aydan dogan, bursa, turkiye

In Turkey ,Islamists are gaining ground day by day.Four months ago three Christians were killed.There is pressure on non-Sunni Muslims even let alone Christians,Budists etc..The Army doesn't seem to be sympathetic to other religions either and still complain about Islamists.Democratically Mr Gul has right to become the president ,but it has become a show of power of Sunnis in the country.I hope he will be compassionate towards other beliefs like the peoples of European countries.

Aydın Akyüz, İzmir, TURKEY

Mr Altan is not a correct ,knowledgable person to make
key announcement on this matter.

robbe, istanbul, turkey

To Deon Irish
Would you like some adresses in Istanbul where you can get some jamon Iberico?
Joking a side to question Laisizm with the availability of ham is somewhat obscure as it has more to do with simple supply and demand balance.
I don`t like AKP and the set of ideas they represent however I do feel compelled to respect Mr Gul`s rigth to became president as he has the mandate from the people of the country.I also think people who think Turkey will become an Iran or Saudi Arabia are grossly mistaken.Turkey is home to some 20 million people who call themselves Alevi .It is turkish way of interpreting Islam where drinking,and few other things that would be severly punished in every other muslim country is considered as part of their lives.It would be naive to think these people and the big part of the Turkish public would sit back and watch their country become an Iran.It will simply not happen.Turks are as practising muslim as the Brits are practising Christians.

ISIRGAN, Reading, uk

I don't think EU will accept Turkey, an Islamic State, as member.
Turkey will have more problems in future, political,economical,
and with neighbouring states, and USA.

hasan dulagil, Bodrum, Turkey

The Turks voted in this government & now having made their bed , they will have to lie on it & go with the chosen party.
They cannot give a mandate & then try to change it afterwards.

Poor Turkey, dreaming of the future , but embedded in the past or put another way , trying to run before they can walk.
Still, the EU leaders will be relieved not to have to make any decisions on how to say , no, yet awhile.

Maggie Millington, Brittany , France

A very friendly and uncritical report. The more plausible thesis is that that Gul and Erdogan plus their millions of Anatolian voters of a very hard line Islamic hue, are using democracy to restore an Islamic political culture in Turkey and at the same time access, and help Islamise, the naive EU.
Surely no responsible UK politician can possibly agree to Turkish membership of the EU, since that would inevitably mean mass migration here of millions of hard line Muslims.
This issue reveals just how little our politicians care for the nation, how the state has turned against the nation, as they recklessly gamble with the nation's integrity.
Here is one very good reason to quit the EU and avoid submersion in 10 years.

Hildebrand, Abingdon, UK

Sir,

The ruling party in Turkey had islamist links. This has proved in many ways but now they claim to be secularist and modern party, I'm afraid this is not the case, What you say and what you do are two different things. Turkish president has to be real secularist not just from outside but inside as well. He doesn't deserve to be the president of Turkey for numerous reasons. When one checks his past will tell you the same thing, we had enough trouble in Turkey in the past and now time for peace and stability ,nothingelse.

steve k, medwaytowns, england

After reading your article and after nomination of Mr. A. Gul to be the next president of Turkey, I have no doubt in my mind Turkey is going to be Islamist State, just like Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Malaysia. At this moment EU has no intention of accepting Turkey as a member, and by becoming an Islamic state will not help at all. Limited economic reforms accepted by Turkey will not help country to balance their budgets, forcing Turkey to sell more of their assets. As for democratic reforms made to join EU, may not followed if EU refuses or delays membership another 20 years. Future years will be full of problems for Turkey.

hasan dulagil, Bodrum, Turkey

What is secular about a state in which non-muslims are limited to eating "ham" made from chicken?

Deon Irish, Cape Town, South Africa