Turkey’s AK Parti Survives
Kemal wrote about the result of the closure case against Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) yesterday. As he pointed out, Turkey’s highest court ruled that, although some laws pushed through by the AK Parti were in breach with the secularism as established in the country’s constitution, there was not reason enough to close the party down now.
It was a close call, but Erdogan et al. survived. For now at least. Six judges voted in favor of closing the party down, where seven were needed. This means that a majority was in favor of closure, but that the majority wasn’t big enough to actually do what the prosecutor requested.
This does not mean, however, that Erdogan et al. can celebrate and pursue an Islamist agenda. The court also said that some policies - especially the attempt to abolish the headscarf ban in universities - were in breach with constitutional secularism. The court made clear that the AKP did most certainly act in breach with the constitution. They were punished for this; they will receive 50% less funding from the government from now onwards.
That’s not as significant a punishment as some hoped, but it is a sign that cannot be ignored by Erdogan and Gül. If the AKP continues to pursue Islamist policies, the prosecutor will, quite simply, sue the AKP again and it’s quite possible that the party will be closed down at that point in time.
In short; the verdict is a victory for the AKP, but it’s also a warning.
It is important to point out that 10 out of 11 judges found the AKP to be guilty. But only 6 endorsed closure, 4 found financial penalties to be sufficent.
I am quite divided about this result. I wish we can all reconcile now. But I am also afraid of the AKP taking over all institutions, including the judiciary and the military, and finally transforming Turkey into a one party system with islamist leanings.