Abdullah Gul, whose nomination for presidency triggered deep political crisis, sparked massive protests and forced an early parliamentary election in Turkey, has been elected President.

His election, which comes close on the heels of the victory of the Islamists in the general elections, is a triumph for democracy and a slap in the face of the country’s military. The military had bitterly opposed his candidacy on the grounds that he is an Islamist.

Indeed, Mr Gul is a devout Muslim, a firebrand politician with a background in political Islam. His wife wears a head scarf. Turkey’s military sees itself as the custodian of the country’s secular Constitution and has repeatedly warned over the past few months that it would intervene in the political arena if Mr Gul was elected or if Turkey’s secularism was diluted in any way.

Its warnings did evoke considerable concern as the military is not averse to meddling in politics. It has overturned four governments since 1960. The military has not commented on Mr Gul’s victory yet. But clearly, the generals are yet to bury the hatchet. The military top brass were absent at Mr Gul’s swearing-in.

How President Gul balances his personal convictions with his public responsibilities will be keenly watched. The first test is his wife’s attire; how his wife will continue wearing the head scarf inside the presidential palace is unclear given the fact that wearing head scarves in state institutions is banned under the Constitution.

President Gul’s critics insist that he will use the support his party, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) enjoys in parliament to dilute Turkey’s secularism.

It is more likely that he will use the parliamentary majority to clip the wings of the generals.  The AKP has plans for a new "civilian" Constitution. The battle between the military and the Islamists is far from over.

Much of the apprehension regarding President Gul’s politics is based on a flawed perception that religion and secularism are mutually exclusive. Mr Gul bears the tremendous responsibility of showing his countrymen and the world that one can be religious in personal conviction, yet secular and inclusive in conducting politics.

His battle against the military will not be easy but it can be won if he is able to convince the country’s secular democrats that his government will not meddle with how they choose to lead their lives.