Turkey's Erdogan must now heal divisions

By Paul de Bendern

ANKARA (Reuters) - Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has achieved what few Turkish politicians would have dreamed possible only a few years ago --- securing the re-election of a party with roots in political Islam.

Just 10 years ago the army removed from power a party it deemed too Islamist for a country whose secular system the military is duty-bound to defend under the constitution.

A year later, Erdogan, then mayor of Istanbul, found himself briefly in jail -- for reading a religious poem at a rally.

On Sunday his ruling AK Party won nearly half the popular vote in a parliamentary election, streets ahead of its nearest, secularist, rival -- and the 53-year-old was looking forward to ruling the secular, Muslim country for another five years.

The son of a poor sea captain took a gamble by calling the poll early after losing a dangerous battle with the secular elite over who would be president, and won the people's backing.

But in Turkey, where the military-backed elite has long controlled all key institutions, that is not the end.

A hot-tempered but charismatic politician, Erdogan must now muster all his skills to capitalize on his victory and unify a country deeply divided over the role of religion, ethnic minorities and potential membership of the European Union.

And judging by recent events, including mass pro-secular rallies and military threats to intervene in politics, more surprises lie ahead for a resourceful outsider who as a boy sold day-old bread rolls to pay for school.

"He faces significant challenges ahead with a deeply divided country, but he's ultimately a pragmatic politician," said Wolfango Picolli of Eurasia Group, a political risk consultancy.

A first headache will be how to respond to a call from the army for a cross-border military operation to crush Turkish Kurdish rebels based in northern Iraq.

MAN OF THE PEOPLE

Erdogan has a taste for sharp suits and expensive watches, and can switch from a sour face to a big smile in an instant.

The father of four hails from Istanbul's tough Kasimpasa district, used to play soccer for money and has a rough accent that the posh secular elite in the capital Ankara has often frowned upon.

Sunday's win is also a testament to his love of campaigning and belief that hard work pays. It has helped turn him into Turkey's most popular politician but his autocratic style has often irked party colleagues.

He held rallies in more than 50 of the 81 provinces of Turkey, a country bordering the European Union in the west and Iran, Iraq and Syria in the east.