Turkey's Islamic-rooted ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party pledged deep reforms aimed at EU membership for its second term after weekend elections gave it a firmer grip on power.
It was a moment of vindication for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who called the snap election after the secularist opposition blocked his party from electing one of its own as president.
But on Sunday, Erdogan's party won 46.4 percent of the vote -- more than double that of its nearest rival, according to unofficial results after all the votes had been counted.
"Our democracy has successfully passed a test ... Our unity, democracy and the republic have emerged stronger from the ballot box," Erdogan told supporters outside party headquarters under a shower of fireworks on Sunday.
"We will never make concessions from the basic principles of the republic," he said. "We will pursue economic and democracy reforms with determination."
That reform program was also stressed by the EU, with officials holding out the carrot of membership if it was pursued.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the vote came "at an important moment for the people of Turkey as the country moves forward with political and economic reforms."
But French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has vocally opposed Turkey joining the EU, showed no indication of changing position, even as he telephoned Erdogan to welcome "his remarkable victory."
He hoped "our relations of trust will continue despite the divergences France and Turkey may have," a spokesman said.
With the turnout above 80 percent, the AK party's share of the vote was the largest for any single party since 1969 and should translate into 340 seats in Turkey's 550-member parliament.
The official results of the election are expected in a week and the newly elected lawmakers could be sworn in early next month.
Erdogan's campaign focused on his party's impressive economic achievements since it swept to power five years ago, such as slashing chronic inflation, sustaining high growth and attracting record investment.
It has also eased access to medical care, provided free textbooks for schoolchildren and built cheap homes for the poor.
The main opposition Republican People's Party finished second on Sunday with 20.8 percent of vote and 111 seats, according to unofficial results.
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