The recent elections constitute a watershed in our democratic development, since the outcome sends a strong response to the months-long agitation by the ultra-secularists and their allies, the state elite. In addition, the election of Kurdish deputies is also likely to intensify their own internal debate about their status as citizens of this country. The early signs indicate that Turkey’s Kurdish elites have politically matured and are ready to engage with the democratic process, and that they are willing to work under the roof of the Turkish Parliament. In this respect the oath-taking ceremony on Saturday was a brave start to the 23rd session of Parliament. Needless to say there are some very serious challenges ahead. The presidential election, the terror targeting the Turkish security forces, as well as the ground-shaking geopolitical repercussions of the war in Iraq are just some of the challenges that await us in the coming weeks and months. Yet there are signs that we will be able to deal with them appropriately and, hopefully, emerge with dignity.
Firstly, the current Parliament consists of an entirely new and diverse group of parliamentarians: plenty of expertise is available across the spectrum of parties. Secondly, considerable relief has been expressed as the Turkish electorate has provided a clear signal of what it expects from the next government. These expectations include a predictable economic environment; political stability; meaningful action on sore points, such as the ban on the headscarf; as well as a strong re-energizing of the drive towards the EU. The electorate also welcomed the considerable change of cadres in the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), and further signaled that it is happy with the deeper consolidation of the center right in Turkish politics.
There is no doubt that the AK Party also attracted large segments of new voters as it opened up to more social-democratic, liberal and pro-democratic forces in Turkey. The considerable shift of votes from the traditional Kurdish party to the AK Party in the Southeast is a remarkable milestone in the building of unity in this country. The Kurdish electorate demonstrated that identity politics no longer satisfy their hunger for a better life, improved services and concrete developments. The shift of over 1 million Kurdish votes to the AK Party not only means that the Democratic Society Party (DTP) is represented in fewer numbers than predicted, but it also revealed the limits of their traditionally ethnic approach to politics. The internal debate amongst Kurds is likely to sharpen the divisions between the ultra-nationalists and those who favor a peaceful and democratic process.
Finally, we still have to undergo the successful completion of the overdue presidential election, and the formation of a new government. There are risks associated with this process, but I am convinced that we will be able to avoid them by democratic means. In later decades, historians may well record that Turkish democracy made a major leap forward in the early 2000s. Witnessing this momentous shift in the nation is very sweet indeed.
