Corruption plots are the best coup traps

Corruption is usually the reason – or excuse – cited by pro-coup supporters for toppling an elected government. The vicious cycle of corruption allegations followed by a coup against elected leaders permeates Turkey's history.

This happened when the military intervened directly in politics four times. They all started with elections followed by corruption allegations, which spurred on coup d'états.

The coup of May 27 was Turkey's first fullfledged coup. It took place in 1960 during a time of socio-political turmoil and financial bottleneck. The motives behind the coup were multi-dimensional but the main reason was that the government loosened some of the Atatürk-era measures concerning religion, which were oppressing the Muslim majority.

A military coup was staged and Prime Minister Menderes, President Bayar and several cabinet members were arrested. The junta distributed flyers of black propaganda suggesting that government leaders were caught trying to escape with 12 airplanes loaded with gold. They were quickly tried on a number of charges, including corruption and treason. Menderes and two cabinet members were executed.

The last coup, popularly labeled the 'postmodern coup', came after the 1995 election which resulted in the election of the Welfare Party (RP), headed by Necmettin Erbakan. The government was forced out after decisions taken by the military leadership at a National Security Council meeting on Feb. 28, 1997. The council also agreed to several reforms regarding religious expression, such as a headscarf ban at universities. Erbakan was sentenced to house arrest after being found guilty on corruption charges, publicly known as the "lost trillions" case.

The use of corruption plots to pave the way for coups, is not unique to Turkey. It is a tactic used by pro-coup supporters from Asia to Africa. The world recently witnessed the corruption allegations against Egypt's first democratically elected president, Mohammed Morsi, who was overthrown in a coup by the junta. It is a hard fact that coups and corruption both cause massive damage to a country's economy, development and reputation.

However, Turkey's economy has shown a remarkable performance in the last decade during the rule of the Erdoğan government, which is currently facing major corruption allegations. Sizable structural reforms and well-planned fiscal policies have transformed the country into one of the major economic actors in the region and have integrated the country's economy into the globalized world.

The government has also initiated many development projects and has brought them to completion. Middle-class living standards and social welfare have not stopped rising since 2002. But corrupt governments only benefit certain groups, not the middle class.

That's why Erdoğan continues to rally enormous crowds at his local election campaigns.People in Turkey are very familiar with the vicious cycle of elections, corruption allegations and coups. With their help, it seems Erdoğan will once again break the cycle on March 30.