Turkey ? The Islamic-rooted government suffered another setback Sunday when parliament failed again to reach a quorum to elect its presidential candidate in an ongoing rift between the ruling party and the secular establishment.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, a close ally of the prime minister, withdrew from the presidential race Sunday – a sign that the government was giving up efforts to push Gul’s candidacy through Parliament in defiance of strong secularist opposition.

“There is no point in holding a new round of election,” Gul said after the parliamentary session Sunday. “Parliament is deadlocked. The correct thing now is for the people to elect” the new president.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, already looking to elections set for July 22, is amending the constitution to open the way for the president to be elected by popular vote, instead of parliament.

The presidential elections have exposed a deepening divide between pro-secular groups and supporters of Erdogan’s party. Secularists oppose Gul’s candidacy, fearing that Erdogan’s party will expand its control and impose religion on society.