Yesterday was an historic day for our democracy. Turkey’s popular Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül was announced as the Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) candidate for the presidency.

Months of speculation, waiting and tension have come to an end. The AK Party leadership -- in consultation with its party caucus -- has decided to put Gül forward as candidate for Turkey’s 11th president. As I am writing this Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan is speaking at the AK Party Parliamentary Group meeting. His first emphasis has this process coinciding with National Sovereignty Week, as well as the significance of the Turkish Parliament within that sovereignty being exercised. “Only the will of the Turkish people is reflected in this Parliament,” he noted. Putting strong emphasis on the power and legitimacy of the Turkish Parliament, Erdoðan underlined his confidence in the centrality of the Parliament within the Turkish political system.

Needless to say he has made such remarks in reaction to months of speculation about less than inspiring means to avoid the nomination of a presidential candidate from the AK Party. Indeed calls from Turkey’s main opposition party as well as other circles were astoundingly far from exhibiting faith in the democratic process. Such political behavior will surely be registered by the Turkish electorate.

Five years of economic and political stability was irresponsibly shattered by those who thought that Prime Minister Erdoðan was going to run for the presidency. Interestingly very few analysts understood that Erdoðan and Gül are men on a mission and would not have endangered what now has amounted to a “silent revolution” for personal considerations. Now all of that is over.

The news of Gül’s candidacy will be greeted throughout the country. He is a man with a smile and has impressed Turks with his style and statesmanlike personality. I vividly remember my mother’s remarks during the early months of 2003 when Gül was briefly prime minister. She surprisingly observed that it is great “to see a prime minister that smiles.” I was lucky to organize a conference in Washington this February that Gül opened. We also hosted him for an exclusive dinner there. He comes across as a very natural and sincere man. He impresses the audience with a distinctly natural style and speech which is far from couched in diplomatic jargon. Gül is a man with a long political career. He is an enlightened man with an open mind who listens to good advice. There is no doubt that he will be a president who will be embraced by many segments of Turkish society.

Given his foreign policy background Gül as president will continue to be a key figure in Turkey’s foreign policy decision-making process. As his role will give him a key position in the National Security Council (MGK) this will also mean that the MGK will have more substantive foreign policy meetings. Of course Gül’s presidency will mean that Turkey will have a new foreign minister. The most likely candidate would of course be Gül’s close advisor Professor Ahmet Davutoðlu -- although Ali Babacan may fill the post until the general elections. However other names may also come to the fore. Whoever it will be it is unlikely to bring about major changes in Turkey’s foreign policy course. Gül’s presidency and his likely role in the decision making process will ensure that Turkey’s normalization with its neighborhood and its proactive stance in the region will continue.

Prime Minister Erdoðan is wrapping up his speech and underlines that he and his party are “on a long and narrow path” and that they still have promises that they need to honor. His whole speech has been based on the “will of the people” as well as “the continuation of the political mission.” There is no doubt that Gül’s presidency signifies another milestone in this mission. Gül’s presidency signifies that the AK Party movement and what it represents is surely moving towards its goal of becoming a Conservative Democratic or Muslim Democratic party similar to the German Christian Democrats.

Gül’s Presidency will be a significant milestone in the further normalization of Turkish democracy as well as the continuation of Turkey’s new foreign policy.