Turkish Presidency

Abdullah Gül is the first former Islamist to become Turkey's president in the secular but predominantly Muslim country's modern history. Public opinion in Turkey has been sharply divided over Gül's allegiance to the country's basic tenets.

Gül's supporters consider him to be a moderate politician who has backed far-reaching democratic and human rights reforms, enabling Turkey to start accession talks with the European Union in 2005. Yet staunch secularists see Gül as a wolf in sheep's clothing, bent on pushing what they consider as the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) plans to dismantle the country's secular system.

However, Gül has publicly stressed in recent weeks that such plans were not on his agenda. He told the country in a press conference earlier this month that he had cut loose from his past and fully believed in the separation of state and religion -- a principle he vowed to defend as president.

Many analysts have said that Gül's experience as foreign minister over the past five years made him well-suited for the presidency. This background would play an active role in furthering Turkey's European ambitions during his seven-year term, analysts said.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Tuesday that the election of Gül could provide fresh impetus to Ankara's EU membership talks.

The election and the arrival to power of a new government "provides an opportunity to give fresh, immediate and positive impetus to the accession process to the European Union through progress in a number of key areas," Barroso said in a statement.

Barroso said: "I am confident that you will fulfil your task with a strong sense of duty and commitment to your country and fellow citizens."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also sent a message of congratulation to Gül.

Germany and Turkey were "important partners" and linked by friendship, Merkel said.

"I am certain that you will dedicate yourself in your new office to deepening our relations, for the good of Europe and the Atlantic Alliance,"

Gül's wife not to attend swearing-in ceremony

Gül's bid to become president had not only become a controversial issue due to his past involvement in Islamist groups. In addition, the fact that his wife Harunisa wears an Islamic-style headscarf had alarmed Turkey's secular elite. It is illegal for state employees and university students to wear headscarves in Turkey.

Hayrunisa Gül will become the first wife of a president to wear a headscarf, which secularist Turks consider a symbol of Muslim political militancy. In a move designed to calm these fears, Harunisa announced earlier on Tuesday that she would not attend the swearing-in ceremony.

Gül has countered critics by saying that the headscarf was a personal choice, and that he, and not his wife, would become president.

Gül won a clear majority

Gül won 339 votes in the parliamentary poll on Tuesday in the third round of voting. During the previous two rounds last week, Gül had failed to receive a two-thirds majority. But for the third round, he needed just a simple majority of 276 votes in the 550-seat parliament.

The 56-year-old Gül will be sworn in at a parliamentary ceremony later on Tuesday, taking over from current President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on Tuesday night.

The current foreign minister easily defeated Sabahattin Cakmakoglu with 70 votes and Huseyin Tayfur Icli with 13. Twenty-four parliamentarians voted "none of the above" and two votes were declared invalid.