To have a glance at the importance of the recent Turkish elections in the country's history:
The coup era is over. This historic vote shows we are ready to join the club of advanced democracies
The coup era is over. This historic vote shows we are ready to join the club of advanced democracies
The 12 June general election constitutes one of the most important milestones in the history of Turkey's democracy. For the first time since the beginning of the multiparty system in 1946, a political party has won three consecutive elections, each time increasing its vote. This shows that democracy and democratic institutions in Turkey are firmly established.
In power since the 2002 election, the AK Justice and Development party has struck a balance between democratisation, economic progress and an active foreign policy. By giving the party 50% of the votes in the 12 June election, Turks confirmed their belief in this model of development and stability .
Coming after three military coups since 1960, democratisation and civilisation have not been easy in our country. Turkish politics has been marred by the violation of basic rights and freedoms, undemocratic and illegal organisations, a parliamentary system under military tutelage, and a national security concept that considers its own citizens suspect.
Turkey has now left the coup era behind. We will continue to combat forces that favour coups and have not fully embraced democracy or pluralist rule in order to reach the standards of the world's advanced democracies. The bold, decisive leadership of the AK party in this area has received the full support of Turkish citizens.
The reform packages enacted for our EU membership, together with the constitutional amendments of the referendum on 12 September 2010, have played a key role in this transition. The AK party's third term is a historic opportunity for Turkey to be a constitutional state with a fully fledged advanced democracy a prerequisite for EU membership.
In order to achieve its goal, Turkey needs to write a new constitution. Our current constitution, written in the wake of the 1980 military coup and adopted in 1982, does not suit Turkey's goals for 2023, the centenary of the founding of the Turkish Republic. A constitution that protects the individual rather than the state, and promotes freedom and democracy rather than security, is a necessity for the 21st century.
Mandate for a new Turkey - The GuardianIn power since the 2002 election, the AK Justice and Development party has struck a balance between democratisation, economic progress and an active foreign policy. By giving the party 50% of the votes in the 12 June election, Turks confirmed their belief in this model of development and stability .
Coming after three military coups since 1960, democratisation and civilisation have not been easy in our country. Turkish politics has been marred by the violation of basic rights and freedoms, undemocratic and illegal organisations, a parliamentary system under military tutelage, and a national security concept that considers its own citizens suspect.
Turkey has now left the coup era behind. We will continue to combat forces that favour coups and have not fully embraced democracy or pluralist rule in order to reach the standards of the world's advanced democracies. The bold, decisive leadership of the AK party in this area has received the full support of Turkish citizens.
The reform packages enacted for our EU membership, together with the constitutional amendments of the referendum on 12 September 2010, have played a key role in this transition. The AK party's third term is a historic opportunity for Turkey to be a constitutional state with a fully fledged advanced democracy a prerequisite for EU membership.
In order to achieve its goal, Turkey needs to write a new constitution. Our current constitution, written in the wake of the 1980 military coup and adopted in 1982, does not suit Turkey's goals for 2023, the centenary of the founding of the Turkish Republic. A constitution that protects the individual rather than the state, and promotes freedom and democracy rather than security, is a necessity for the 21st century.
