Coup seems confirmation power Erdogan

The last in which tanks rolled through the streets was in 1980. In 1997, a written warning from the military leadership enough to force the resignation of the elected government Erbakan. It was clear that the army had the power in the country.

Now nothing is clear. First of all, not who attempted a coup. Those are not the entire armed forces.

Army Leadership is divided

The army leadership is divided and itself seems completely overwhelmed by what is happening. The government speaks of a "corridor" within the military. Erdogan is facing his nemesis imam Fethullah Gülen and his followers. It is unclear what kind of evidence for this.

Moreover, the government does not count. In 1960, 1980 and 1997 meant the intervention of the army that was chosen custody without much resistance on the side. Now the president calls the people on the street to go to show support to the government. "Nothing is more powerful than the people." And: "About corpse," the justice minister said about the attempted takeover.

Within a few hours thus seemed turned the tables. An attack on the controversial Conservative government and the leadership of President Erdogan became a confirmation of their power over land, army and population. Conspiracy thinkers on social media are therefore convinced that the whole drama is illustrated by an approach from Erdogan that should help him attract more power to him.

Guess backgrounds

For now prevalent ambiguity and guessing the background to the coup attempt. Are they really 'Gülenisten "though it was unknown who had support within the military? Is it a last convulsion of a vengeful institute with sorrow shall see how the war in Syria, Turkey has managed to destabilize? Turkey is under pressure due to the large amount of terrorist attacks over the past year. In addition, by the Kurdish PKK regular military targets chosen and live strong opinions within the military to be on how to dispel the PKK and that a peace process with the Kurds sentence. Additionally jihadists hold regular bloody attacks.

Military is no longer the guardians

The Turkish military sees itself since the early twentieth century as guardian of the guardian of the separation of church and state in Turkey. The generals feel the successors of the founder of the republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

That clear role they have not. The country is governed since 2002 by a conservative party that has improved the position of pious Muslims and makes no secret of its roots in Islam. Reconquest of the state administration in the armed forces was and to some extent is the raison d'être of the current government.

The forced resignation of Prime Minister Erbakan in 1997 was a formative experience for the later Prime Minister Erdogan, meanwhile president. Erdogan's government curtailed from 2002 gradually the power of the army. That was a power struggle thoroughbred, complete with mass trials against the military leadership who was accused of conspiracy against the government. Hundreds of (former) soldiers were arrested.

Erdogan already strengthened position

Initially, the government Erdogan was weak. The entire civil service and the judiciary were dominated by an elite with the same vision for the country and a holy faith in the army. To break through it was the AKP government, Erdogan help from followers of the influential imam Fethullah Gülen. The army leadership was a time their common enemy.

The Gülen movement, which has many training institutes, produced a new class pious officials. The so-called 'Gülenisten "especially given positions within the police and judiciary. Until they were too powerful and also turned against Erdogan end of 2013. Since then, the Gülen movement is regarded as a parallel state in Turkey must be destroyed root and branch according to the government. These opaque power struggle after tearing the civil service and judiciary is now possibly the army. Supporters of the Gülen movement denied involvement in the attempted coup.

Its progress is indicative of how times have changed in Turkey. What the army too was ever in Turkey, as the guardian of law and order and it now operates.

By: NRC Editorial Photo: AFP