Ramifications of ‘Sledgehammer'

Yavuz Baydar

It took 21 months.

After a painful, intensely debated judicial process, Turkey's critical coup trial ended with not much surprise -- except to those who are the relatives of the suspects -- when a heavy series of prison sentences were issued by the court in İstanbul.

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Political greed

Yavuz Baydar

In a manner of distancing itself from the real essence of demands of social transformation, Turkey's dominant politics is redefining itself on a new path, which means more trouble.

It has passed two benchmarks: the referendum on partial changes to the Constitution and the national elections last year. The direction of the vote in the two events gave strength to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and consolidated its power. And it put the leadership of the AKP before a crucial choice: It would either convert the consolidation into collectivization of power, or a personification of it.

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