Turkey's foreign minister failed to get enough votes to be elected president in a second round of parliamentary voting Friday, but he is expected to win next week in another ballot that only requires a simple majority.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, the government's candidate, won 337 votes from legislators. His Justice and Development party lacks the two-thirds majority of 357 votes needed to secure the election.
Two other candidates - Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, of a nationalist party, and Tayfun Icli, from a small center-left party - got 71 and 14 votes, respectively, the AP reported. However, Gul is almost certain to win Tuesday's vote, which would end the four-month battle over the presidency between Turkey's secular elite and the ruling party.
Gul's nomination earlier this year sparked a political crisis, with millions taking to the streets in protest of his bid. The military also threatened to intervene to protect the secular system. Gul's wife wears an Islamic-style head scarf, and secularists are horrified by the prospect of a first lady in Islamic attire.
