Newsweek: 50% chance of 2007 military coupe in Turkey
Güncelleme Tarihi:
An article carried in this week's Newsweek magazine asserts that there is a 50% chance of a military coup occuring in Turkey this coming year. The article, which is written by Hudson Institute expert Zeyno Baran, notes that though top level Turkish military authorities do not wish to take a break from democracy, "they may have to take action soon" in order to protect secularity in the country.
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The Newsweek article also refers to the period when Necmettin Erbakan was Prime Minister of Turkey, 10 years ago, at which time Erbakan's government was "removed from power." The same conditions which existed under Erbakan are once again in place, asserts Baran's article. "The conditions which brought about that coupe have reemerged. There is another Islamic force in power. And again the generals in the army are angrily whispering about how the administration has weakened Turkey's secular basis. I think the chances of Turkey undergoing a military coupe in 2007 are 50%."
Baran also stresses in his article that top level military authorities in Turkey are worried that the civilian control over the country's military, which would increase with the general EU accession process, would "produce an Islamic Turkey." Baran also defends a possible military coupe in 2007 as no being antidemocratic, noting that it would bring an end to Turkey's current "Islamic control," and that the path to a conservative, secular, but still democratic government would be cleared by such a coupe. Notes Baran "Perhaps such a Turkey would be a better candidate for the EU."