The Right Decision

After a hot summer with lots of worries the verdict of the Constitutional Court seems to relieve Turkey from further anxiety, at least for this year . I do not know if it a sign of a weakened Kemalist establishment or of a wise compromise of the shadow actors in Turkish politics, inside The Deep State. I am quite confident that allowing some breathing space for Turkish democracy will be good for us. The balance has been struck - and even without the EU membership carrot in sight - the Court acted wisely.

Yet in in this decision there is a stern warning to AKP not to act in its own accord and respect wishes of the Other Turkey. Many people are not just concerned with economic prosperity, they are prickly about their lifestyles, their drinks and beach parties and pre-marital sex. Their wishes have to be respected by their more conservative brothers and sisters. After all, they all belong to a great nation of Turkey. The only cure for Turkey to maintain its social cohesion is uphold the rule of Law and nationalist agenda.

Key parts of the Turkish Constitution at the heart of the case against the AK party included the preamble, which states:

In line with the concept of nationalism and the reforms and principles introduced by the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Atatürk, the immortal leader and the unrivalled hero, this Constitution, which affirms the eternal existence of the Turkish nation and motherland and the indivisible unity of the Turkish state, embodies . . .

The recognition that no protection shall be accorded to an activity contrary to Turkish national interests, the principle of the indivisibility of the existence of Turkey with its state and territory, Turkish historical and moral values or the nationalism, principles, reforms and modernism of Atatürk and that, as required by the principle of secularism, there shall be no interference whatsoever by sacred religious feelings in state affairs and politics . . .