The Turkish electorate once again sided with the party victimized by the establishment. Turks do not like outside interference with the democratic process. Time and again this has been evidenced in the history of our fragile democracy. Yesterday’s result signifies the reaction of the electorate to the April 27 e-memorandum as well as the odd interpretation of the Constitutional Court. It was very obvious when I visited the villages of Çankırı that the electorate had made up its mind and wanted to make sure that its voice was heard in this election, but I was unsure as to what extent this would occur. There were many occasions where I heard villagers say that they had not been planning to vote for the AK Party but that they simply could not digest the fact that Abdullah Gül was prevented from becoming Turkey’s 11th president. Last night’s results showed the electorate meant what it said.One should hope that last night’s results will trigger some reckoning in the establishment. The establishment -- especially its CHP wing -- must apply some self-criticism and assess why it performed so badly in this election. It is highly desirable that we begin a process whereby a social and political consensus can be devised -- Turkey dearly needs such a consensus. It appears that the AK Party should be the entity to reach out to the establishment and help it get out of the trap it is boxed into. We must find the courage to initiate a genuine process of reconciliation and open a new chapter in our political history. Otherwise we will find ourselves in a perennial meddling and crisis-ridden period that will continue to suck the energy of this country.
The July 22 election was an important watershed in the history of our young democracy. The election was performed peacefully and without irregularities. There is no doubt that this election helped the consolidation of our democratic culture which stands out as an example in our region. Once again we managed to determine through our votes who should run the country. I toured many voting stations in Çankırı on Election Day and I am convinced that it was a transparent, orderly and legitimate election.
The election result carries a number of messages. The first message is that no one should meddle with Turkey’s democratic process. Outside interference is not welcome, and democracy should run its course. Secondly, the Turkish people opted for stability and economic predictability. Turks are sick of the incapacitated coalitions and economic crises that have impoverished them over the last decade. Thirdly, Turks understand that this government performed well in a number of critical areas, including health care and infrastructural projects such as highways, etc.
All in all, the Turkish people issued a “people’s memorandum” to all concerned. That memorandum included messages that need to understood by the CHP and the establishment. As a final point of analysis, those who failed in this election need to be reminded that politics is for the people, and should be done with the people by the people. Otherwise, the ballot box will issue such a memorandum…
