The Turkish government's candidate for president soundly beat his rivals in the first round of voting in the Ankara parliament yesterday, but failed to get enough votes to avoid a second round next Monday.
The result strengthens the hand of the Prime Minister, Mr Bulent Ecevit's chosen candidate, Judge Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who also won backing from all party leaders. Mr Ecevit chose Mr Sezer (58) as a consensus candidate, who could provide a smooth transition to the new presidency to safeguard political stability and the government's $4 billion IMF-backed economic reform programme.
The judge is seen as acceptable to Turkey's powerful army, having approved the ban on the Islamic Welfare Party in 1998.
Mr Sezer's advocacy of democratic reforms and increased freedom of speech also makes him attractive to liberals.
Deputy Speaker Nejat Arseven said Mr Sezer had won 281 votes in the secret balloting, short of the 367 in the 550-seat assembly needed for outright victory. "The two-thirds majority did not emerge. I am closing down the session to gather again on Monday."
Mr Sezer's three nearest rivals were far behind. An Islamist deputy won 61 votes, a nationalist got 58, and the conservative Parliamentary Speaker Mr Yildirim Akbulut drew 56 votes.
Threshold for victory in the next round remains 367 votes.
Mr Ecevit said it was clear Mr Sezer would become the Turkish republic's 10th head of state.
Yesterday's outcome marks something of a parliamentary comeback for Mr Ecevit, who suffered a severe blow this month when many government deputies rejected an attempt to keep President Suleyman Demirel in office.
On this occasion Mr Ecevit managed to unite his coalition allies and opposition leaders behind Mr Sezer, chairman of the secularist constitutional court.
If no winner emerges on Monday, elections can go to a third and possibly fourth round. The process must be completed by May 16th when Mr Demirel steps down.
In the third round the hurdle is lowered to 276 votes, a simple majority. If voting goes to a fourth and final round, only the two leading contenders run.