 |
Turkey: AK Party Fined but Not Banned |
 |
I think this qualifies as good news. Turkey’s Constitutional Court voted to fine, but not ban, the ruling AK Party.Â
Good news why? Because the AK Party was democratically elected, and because they don’t actually represent a fundamentalist threat. They’re real “Islamist lite” politics - they’ve done battle with their political opponents over the issue of headscarves in public places, but honestly I think they’re on the right side of the issue (a woman should be able to wear a headscarf to university if she wants to, in my view). And I strongly doubt we’ll see AK trying to impose shari’a in Turkey…ever. So from the perspective of national and regional stability, I’m glad the democratic process will continue. Beat them at the ballot box.
Markets are responding positively as well, and all major players seem to be relatively satisfied with the outcome:
The verdict ended months of political uncertainty which has hit Turkey’s financial markets on fears that the democratically elected party would be closed down, halting economic and political reforms needed for Turkey to join the European Union.
Constitutional Court Chairman Hasim Kilic, the chief justice, said six of the 11 judges voted to close the AK Party — one fewer than the number required. But the court did decide to cut some state aid to the party, which, like other parties in parliament, receives funds from the treasury.
“The verdict on cutting treasury aid has been given because of members who decided that the party was the hub of anti-secular activities but not seriously enough (to close the party),” Kilic, clearly emotional, told a news conference.
The AK Party was re-elected with 47 percent of the vote last year and denied charges of violating the secular constitution by supporting Islamist activities.
The AK Party welcomed the ruling, with its labor minister Faruk Celik saying Turkish democracy had won.
Financial markets had traded higher on expectations the party would not be banned. The lira was up 2 percent earlier in the day and stocks had gained 6 percent.
“This is the best possible outcome for the markets in my view. The AKP has basically been found guilty but its punishment will not be closure. It will be punished financially. Markets will respond to this positively and its in line with our view,” Togal Ediz, an economist at Lehman Brothers said.
We’ll see what comes next, but hopefully this brings some stability to Turkey’s politics and economy.
I can’t wait until Obama is president and his flawed
policies throws the US into a full blown depression.
Then,when the terrorists start blowing up major US cities
the left may get a clue that they are the most ignorant,
uninformed, childish people on the planet. Good luck
on your current egotrip.