Actually the AKP had 50% of the votes which gives it a mixed mandate because 50% of the people did not vote for them. True democracy aims to build consensus and takes account of all views in decision making processes.
The AKP wanted to railroad through changes to the constitution one of which would have allowed PM Erdogan to become the President in a newly defined role that would allow him to continue to dominate and influence Turkish politics. Under the current system he can not run again. It is a good thing that the AKP did not win a constitutional majority but having locked up key opponents they continue to obstruct the right of uncharged but elected Members of Parliament to take up their rightful positions to Government posts they were elected too by the people and weakens the legitimate opposition.
The main reason the AKP is so popular is because for many years prior to their election there was a long period of instability in Turkey. The AKP have done many good things for the people of Turkey, a stable government is important for Turkish people, inflation and interest rates are down and they have an impressive approach to foreign policy. That said the economy is overheating, Turkeys credit rating took a knock recently, the Kurdish issue and now unrest in Syria on its doorstop.
The military traditionally were considered the upholders of the constitution and the protectors of a secular state. They intervened if the constitution was being flouted or abused.
The questions to ask is why if they are so popular are so many members of the opposition, the judiciary, academics, lawyers, senior members of the armed forces locked up on trumped, unproven charges for years and years. Have you any idea how many journalists have been murdered in Turkey this year alone? And why have they weakened the power and diluted the independence of the judiciary which is crucial in any democracy.
In the Middle East we have all observed how the people's popular uprisings against people who had/have absolute power have used the internet to organise and tell the rest of the world what is going on.
Isn't it a little bit suspicious that the AKP intends to censor what people can access on the internet? Thirteen thousand web sites are already blocked but secret lists are being drawn up and in a few weeks time we will all have an imposed filter system that will restricted the right to access information on the internet.
Absolute power is never a good thing and mandate or no mandate marginalising 50% of the population will not lead to continued stability in the long term and will be detrimental to the role in the world of such an important and strategically placed country. Democracy in any country is not determined by the ballot box it is determined by the active and meaningful participation of the people in all levels of decision making that affects their lives.
