• Publications
    • Books
    • Opinions
    • Analyses
    • Reports
  • Events
  • About
    • SETA DC
    • People
  • US-Türkiye Relations
  • Washington Gündemi
  • Contact
  • info@setadc.org
    202-223-9885
    1025 Connecticut Ave NW
    Suite 410
    Washington, DC 20036
  • Publications
    • Books
    • Opinions
    • Analyses
    • Reports
  • Events
  • About
    • SETA DC
    • People
  • US-Türkiye Relations
  • Washington Gündemi
  • Contact

False Nostalgia About The Parliamentary System in Turkey

Kilic Bugra Kanat Posted On May 29, 2015
0
82 Views


The parliamentary system in Turkey did not isolate or end the antidemocratic means of intervention in democratic processes


The coverage of the debates on a potential system change and the presidential system in Turkey is taking place in a problematic way in some Turkish and international media organizations. First of all, the issue is being discussed as if a well-functioning system still exist, and the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government is trying to change this system for the interest of its survival. However, the reality under current circumstances is that the system constitutes a serious threat to economic and political stability in Turkey. Following the military intervention through the Internet memorandum in April 2007 during the presidential election process, Turkish voters went to the polls in a referendum and voted to change the Constitution for the president to be elected by popular vote instead of by Parliament. Following this amendment, a serious issue emerged in terms of the rights and responsibilities of an elected president that needs to be addressed. The status quo is not possible under the current circumstances. An elected president who received more than 50 percent of the vote, in particular in an election that had a turnout of more than 80 percent, raises a serious debate about the place of the office in the system. So a constitutional change that will include a change in the system of government is not only necessary, but a must in order to prevent potential crises of governance in the country in the future.

Secondly, during debates about a system change and presidential system among some circles there is a false nostalgia about the parliamentary system that worked very smoothly in previous periods. However, Turkish political history demonstrates that in the last 65 years of electoral democracy, the parliamentary system, especially in the absence of a strong one-party government, brought a lot of instability and crises to the country. The last example of this period of crisis took place during the 1990s when coalition governments from the lack of effective governance, short-lived governments and frequent elections brought Turkish democracy to the brink of another junta. A military intervention took place as a result of these government crises, and just like the late 1970s, Parliament had difficulty electing a president. The crisis ended only with the November 2002 elections when voters brought a strong AK Party government to power. The AK Party’s parliamentary majority allowed it to pass important political and economic reforms and launch accession negotiations with the European Union. There are some legitimate concerns among those who experienced these periods of coalitions in Turkey, and despite many economic and political developments since then, the return of a period of coalition governments will bring similar problems to the country.

Finally, another false nostalgia in the debates about a system change in Turkey in some Turkish and international media is taking place in regard to the democratic wisdom of the parliamentary system. Parliamentary systems can be very successful in some countries by contributing to the quality of democracy, representation and freedoms, however during its presence in the last 65 years in Turkey the system was under constant threat of tutelage. The system was constantly challenged by the military and judiciary. Especially the government crises in coalition periods made the military intervention a savior of the country in the eyes of many people in the country. This provided a window of opportunity for constant intervention by the military. Even when there were one-party governments, the military and the judiciary constantly found a way to intervene in the political system. The coup of 1960, the Internet memorandum of 2007 and the lawsuit against the AK Party took place when there was a one-party government. Thus, the parliamentary system in Turkey did not isolate or end the antidemocratic means of intervention in democratic processes. While discussing a potential system change in Turkey one needs to avoid making these false assumptions about the existing system.

This article was originally published in Daily Sabah on May 29, 2015.

Post Views: 82



  • Recent

    • The End of the American Century? Interdependence, Soft...
      June 9, 2025
    • Trump-Netanyahu Relationship Takes a Turn for the Worse
      May 30, 2025
    • Why Is Trump Bypassing Israel?
      May 30, 2025
    • Israel’s plan to involve the United States in the occupation...
      May 30, 2025
    • Private Roundtable With Turkish Deputy FM Nuh Yılmaz
      May 20, 2025
    • “Beyond Alliance: Rethinking US-Türkiye Relations...
      May 20, 2025
    • Trump's first 100 days...
      May 5, 2025
    • Will the rare earth elements deal bring peace?
      May 5, 2025
    • Is the U.S. withdrawing from Syria?
      April 25, 2025
    • The two-state solution debate and Türkiye’s strategic...
      April 16, 2025

  • Washington Gündemi

    • New York’ta Mamdani'nin Zaferi
      June 28, 2025
    • ABD’nin İran’a Saldırısı Cumhuriyetçileri...
      June 28, 2025
    • NATO Zirvesinde Trump Kazandı
      June 28, 2025
    • Trump İran-İsrail Ateşkesini Duyurdu
      June 28, 2025
    • New York Belediye Başkanı Seçimleri Kızışıyor
      June 20, 2025
    • Washington’da Tartışmalı Askeri Geçit Töreni
      June 20, 2025
    • Trump G7 Zirvesinden Erken Ayrıldı
      June 20, 2025
    • ABD’den İran'a İki Hafta Süre
      June 20, 2025
    • Musk ile Trump Arasında Ateşkes
      June 13, 2025
    • California Ayaklandı
      June 13, 2025



Stay Updated


© Copyright 2018-2022 SETA Foundation at Washington DC
Press enter/return to begin your search