Turkey’s trend

THE interest with which the world followed news of the Turkish parliamentary elections is testimony to Ankara’s growing role in regional and international politics. The outcome must have been a great disappointment to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose Justice and Development Party (JDP) came out ahead, but not with a margin big enough to form a majority government.

What is even more aggravating, from Erdogan’s point of view, is that he will not be able to change the constitution, as he had intended.

Since 2002, when Erdogan rose to power, the JDP has grown in stature – and for good reason. Under Erdogan, Turkey achieved a near economic miracle. It more than doubled its GNP, overhauled its infrastructure and asserted itself in regional politics.

But in recent years Erdogan seemed to lose touch. He locked horns with domestic critics who questioned the probity of his party members. And when workers and youth rose against him, he used excessive force against them, clamping down on free speech, closing several papers and television stations, and banning access to YouTube and Twitter.

Dissatisfied with the constitution, which gives primary powers to the office of the prime minister rather than the president, Erdogan wanted to shake things up.

However, in the recent elections the JDP won only 40 percent of the vote, leaving his opponents with 60 percent of the seats and every chance to curb his strident ambitions.

The JDP may still form a coalition government, but that’s a far cry from the sweeping powers Erdogan had dreamt of.

Much has changed in Ankara, and this may be just the beginning of a welcome trend.