But so far, secular and liberal parties are running a poor third in the election.

It won 21 percent of the vote and governed in coalition with a secular party.

But some said the secular parties seem to be overestimating their popularity.

There is also tension between religious and secular Shiite parties.

Among other things it has laid the fundamental conflict between religious and secular parties.

So far, he has only united his own party with a handful of other secular parties and political figures who ran separately last time.

Its policies in support of marriage and church schools have become popular currency among secular parties.

Still, he acknowledged that Turkey's main secular parties would probably continue to try to block his way.

And he has said there is little that divides his party's program from those of Turkey's secular parties.

For the last year, the secular parties, along with the religious alliance, waged the campaign against the president.