The Egyptian model and Turkey

Egypt's successful coup hit a rock in Turkey and went ricocheting as though it was in a pinball machine.

The "solid rock" was the will of the people and their experience with democracy that is beyond comparison with Egypt. The structural and economic reforms that have been implemented over the past 12 years have prevented the country from being dragged into political and economic chaos with the Gezi crisis and the Dec. 17 operation. Erdoğan's courage emanates from the importance the public places in him and enables him to have the final say on matters.

Erdoğan was not subjected to a fair fight on the political stage with the Dec. 17 operation, which was an extension of the exploitation of the energy of Gezi. The allegiance forged against Erdoğan, however much it employs democratic arguments and portrays a positive image in the media and on the international stage, is essentially comprised of a consortium of anti-democratic segments of society. They already know that it is not possible to defeat Erdoğan at the ballot box.

Neither street movements nor the parallel structure that has spent years preparing for this have succeeded.

The results of the March 30 local elections not only pave the way for Erdoğan's presidency but, more importantly, show that Erdoğan will be the leader of Turkey when it celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2023. This is a consolidation of the reforms that have been undertaken in the past 12 years. The government and the state of the past 12 years have come to the point where the electorate will not return to the previous status quo.

The reconciliation process - the ending of the 35-year-long war between the state and the PKK, and the extension of equal rights to Kurdish citizens - and the situation of Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MİT) were defining points. Erdoğan has been granted his visa for the next 10 years to successfully conclude the peace process, to free the MİT from bureaucratic guardianship and prevent half the country from exploitation. As a result, it will become clear that powerful influences on the electorate invented problems with Alevis, Kurds and Armenians over the past 90 years.

This is the reality of what has been seen in Turkey for the past two years. Outside of this, it is of course possible to voice criticism toward Erdoğan and his AK Party; however such critique in Turkey and the West is portrayed in a singular light around why Erdoğan is consolidating power.

Erdoğan and his party demonstrate that after 12 years a political party will not be punished at the ballot box and will not fall into the trap of previous coup attempts or street movements. I would like to emphasize that I am not saying Erdoğan and the AK Party are faultless. How could any party that has governed for 12 years be faultless? The crises that have arisen in Turkey since Gezi are a serious abnormality.

This abnormality has led to attempts to remove the AK Party through illegal means. Through continually provoking the secular authoritarian layer, tensions rise in Turkey, unlike in Egypt; while the West turns a blind eye.

But the seasoned Turkish public will not fall prey to such simple games. Despite 12 years of wear and tear, the public has handed a de facto mandate to Erdoğan telling him to govern the country and continue with the reconciliation process and related reforms.

It was planned for Turkey to take the same course as Egypt; however Erdoğan's determined leadership coupled with a public appreciation for democracy has prevented this from happening.

For countries that wish to continue their partnerships with Turkey, the most rational course of action would be to respect this choice and set aside their attitudes embroiled with double standards. The public has made a decision about their destiny.

It is everyone's duty to respect this.