"The Army Will Simply Have to Cope!"

One of the biggest obstacles for Turkey's road to Europe has always been the controversial political influence of the Turkish Army. Professor Faruk Sen, director of the German Centre for Turkish Studies, comments on the curbing of its powers

For years, the Turkish government has been trying to bring the country closer to the European Union. One of the biggest obstacles has always been the controversial political influence of the Turkish Army. Faruk Sen sees the curbing of the military's power as an opportunity for the country to take a big step towards EU membership

Might one describe the Turkish parliament's decision as a minor revolution?

Faruk Sen (photo: Philippe Veldemann) — Faruk Sen, director of the German Centre for Turkish Studies

Faruk Sen: "I'd say it's not a minor revolution, but a major one; for nobody in Turkey believed that this law would ever be passed by the Turkish parliament in its present form. Astonishingly, in fact, it was (of all people) the Social Democrats in Parliament who were against the new law as it currently stands.

But in the end, the bill was passed; and so the European public no longer has any reason to reproach Turkey. If this law really comes into full operation from September onwards, then it's safe to assume that the Turkish army will in future be concerned only with defending the country against external attack. In other words, the governments of Turkey will free themselves completely from the influence of the Turkish armed forces."

What political changes do you expect this law to bring – presuming that does, in fact, come into operation?

Sen: "The National Security Council will now play a purely advisory role. Most importantly, however: in future, civilians may hold the position of General Secretary of the National Security Council, and the Deputy Prime Minister will have the upper hand there.

In other words, power will be in the hands of the presiding Prime Minister of Turkey; no-one else will govern against his will or behind his back."

As the military are the clear losers in all this, how have they reacted to these changes?

Sen: "I think the Premier, Tayyip Erdogan, has spent enough time discussing the matter. The Turkish President has now also given the green light for these changes. The Turkish Army, and the Kemalists, will presumably resign themselves to accepting this parliamentary decision in the end. "

This change was made in order to ease the path to EU membership; does it also express the will of most Turkish people?

Sen: "Certainly. Recent polls have shown that more than 75% of the Turkish people are fully in favour of Turkey's convergence with the European Union. In Parliament, too, the vote demonstrated that two-thirds of all MPs support the new resolutions.

In other words, these changes are the express wish of the Turkish population. Most people feel that there is simply no alternative."

Interview conducted by Andrea Grunau