Significant democratization steps being taken with a great consensus are being filled by an un-political, nontransparent and out-of-hand actor
I am sure you are wondering about what is going on in Turkey. The confusion can also be found on the streets of Ankara and Istanbul. Although the prosecutors, who had the sons of three ministers arrested on Dec. 17, claim it is a case of corruption, the public does not share this opinion. Public surveys show that more than half of the public believe the Dec. 17 operation was a systematized and deliberate interference with politics. Let us put forth our conclusion first: This is an asymmetrical attack on democracy in Turkey. The purpose of this asymmetrical attack is to shape the outcome of the local election in two months, which undoubtedly will have a psychological effect on the presidential elections in August, and the general elections in 2015.
On one side of the struggle, there is the AK Party government, who in the last 12 years has won three general and two local elections and a plebiscite, has a voting percentage close to 50 percent and a known leader and organization able to answer to the
public and the court if needed.
On the other side is the parallel structure, which questions the government's political decisions and thinks any undesirable politics should be interfered with, mainly through its network within security intelligence and police forces, who cannot be audited and have no legal responsibilities.
It must be noted that the name that comes to mind when uttering the word "parallel structure" in Turkey, is the Gülen Movement, also known as the Hizmet Movement. This is not the public's perception alone, but also the opinion of the government summit. President Abdullah Gül emphasizes the group as "the non-hierarchical solidarity within the state." Prime Minister Erdoğan is openly pointing the finger at the "parallel structure," in other words the Gülen Movement, as being behind everything that is happening.
We are thus witnessing the entry of a new definition into the literature of Turkish politics. Once again, it is understood that the significant democratization steps being taken with a great consensus are being filled by an un-political, non-transparent and out-of-hand actor, who is hurting democracy by opening the gateways for military tutelage. In other words, the term "deep state" – from the years where military tutelage had a determining effect on politics – is being replaced by the term "parallel structure." Many allegations regarding this un-political actor have been made throughout time.
They were accused of putting innocent people on trial in the Ergenekon and Sledgehammer coup cases, both tokens in the fight towards coups. Journalists were jailed for the Oda TV cases, and the arrested awardwinning journalist Nedim Şener was pointing at this structure. Illegal monitoring, voice recordings thrown about, leaked recordings of meetings to end 30 years of clashes with the terrorist organization, the PKK, and the arrested of members of the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK), a wing of the PKK, were all correlated with this structure. The parallel structure, which the opposition parties often complain about, was openly recognized
by the government with the attempt to arrest MİT Undersecretary Hakan Fidan on Feb. 7, 2012, for negotiating with the terror organization PKK about disarmament.
On top of all of this, a new wiretapping scandal surfaced earlier this week shocking everyone in Turkey. In an official statement, Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arinç confirmed that close to 7,000 people had been wiretapped, including journalists, businessmen and politicians. I am also among those 7,000 people. This situation is unsettling for those who believe they are living safely in this democratic country. Ignoring their unlawful measures does not make them go away. They must be addressed. I therefore hope for the initiation of a transparent process that will bring all unlawful endeavors in Turkey out into the open.
Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey,
it’s region and the world.
You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.