The Morning After
Posted on July 31st, 2008 by Jenny White
Andrew Finkel discusses why the court backed away in the end from “the nuclear option”, barely. He argues that the “best answer to those who accuse [the AKP] of having an Islamic agenda is to make Turkey a more democratic and freer place. Reform, not revenge, should be the plan.” (click here)
We can only hope the government heeds the warning and backs off from some of its less tolerant actions, and begins to do what PM Erdogan said he wanted to do when he was mayor of Istanbul in the 1990s — put people in positions of authority on the basis of their qualifications and can-do ability, NOT their ideological and religious affiliation or the fact that they’re a relative.
Well, imho, the reference to Erdogan of 1990s is misplaced as he had reportedly said quite a few other things back then.
Also, this “judicial coup,” “nuclear option,” etc. are false notions for the most part. For they are political notions. The court wasn’t going to (and didn’t) reach a verdict based on political considerations. And that is not only a good thing, but an imperative of constitutional democracy as well.