"To settle political controversies, not violence but talks and negotiations are needed": it was repeated, after the large-scale demonstrations of the last few days in Turkey against the nomination of Abdullah Gul of the Islamist Party for state president, by the spokesman of the Turkish Bishops, mgr. Georges Marovitch. "Respecting all opinions is essential he said to SIR as well as respecting the minorities and their rights. There’s no point knowing who will be the next president, what matters is to make sure the laws and rights are abided by. I think he adds that it is not the army that must lay down the law". "In this political climate he concludes the Church is busy praying for peace and for the common good of all Turks". On May 1st, the Constitutional Court of Turkey had voided the first presidential voting because of the lack of a quorum. Top of the list was Abdullah Gul, the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, an outstanding figure in Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdongan’s Party. In the meantime, on a different front, the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the Ankara Parliament decided that early elections will be held on July 22nd because of the institutional confrontation that has started between the two main components of the Turkish political scene, the lay one and the moderate Islamic one led by Erdgan.
