It has been able to manage a crisis, albeit artificially created by the April 27 memorandum and the controversial decision of the Constitutional Court. As has been witnessed, the evening hours of July 22 demonstrated the response by the Turkish electorate to outside interference into the democratic process. Four months after the failed attempt to elect Gül, the Turkish Parliament overwhelmingly completed the election process whereby Gül became Turkey’s 11th president. All in all, Turkish democracy overcame a key period without any damage and emerged stronger from the experience. The election of Gül to the presidency constitutes a historic opportunity both for Turkey and Europe. Firstly, Gül is a true statesman and has a proven track record of working well with the armed forces, the Foreign Ministry and the security bureaucracy. Secondly, Gül has been a competent foreign minister and subsequently has acquired an extensive international network. Gül’s presidency also presents an opportunity because he has the personal and political capacity to help build bridges between the Turkish state establishment and the AK Party government. In this respect, he could become a key actor who could play a crucial role in confidence building between the two sides. That said, for this he will need the help of the government, the opposition, the armed forces, the business community, civil society and the media. Should he become successful, President Gül could become a key actor in crafting Turkey’s elusive political consensus. With this in mind, President Gül emphasized that he intends to be extremely sensitive about the core principles of the Turkish Republic, including secularism.
Given his background and international prestige, Gül’s appointment presents an opportunity in the foreign policy area as well. As he has eloquently stressed in his speech in the Turkish Parliament, President Gül intends to re-energize Turkey’s EU drive and take a very proactive approach in harmonizing Turkey’s policies with the European Union. In no uncertain terms, President Gül identified Turkish membership in the European Union as the country’s number one foreign policy priority. He urged the Turkish Parliament to push through reform -- not because the EU demands it, but because it makes sense for Turkish citizens. The coming weeks and months will testify to a new effort to reach out to European capitals and work closely with our friends in Europe.
Yet we will also need an extended hand from Europe. Turkey’s friends in Europe need to be more vocal about the achievements of recent months. European democrats need to acknowledge that what has been achieved is remarkable and a true testament to the European vocation of Turkey. Turkey now has a powerful government and a mandate to bring itself into the family of European nations. Europe has an equal responsibility to embrace this brave Turkey. Turkey has done its homework. It intends to surprise Europe further with its proactivism and determination for self-transformation.
The AK Party, President Gül and the momentum behind the government constitute key variables that are all lined up behind a favorable leap forward. Completing this lineup should be a warm and embracing hand from Europe.
