I am not one of those who believe that the people never make any mistakes. But when I look at Turkish politics, what I see is that compared with the educated elites, those broad groups or sections of society that are commonly described as “the people” have long been far more reasonable, and individuals within that category have been acting in a far more rational and flexible way.
Over the past five months, a flexible and mobile section of the electorate appears to have lived and learned, through its own direct experience, that the AKP’s failure to form a government by itself may have drastic consequences for peace and stability, especially given that the opposition promises nothing but negativism and destruction.
Turkey now has the benefit of a very significant social push to cut across the adverse current that it entered after 7th June. In the days ahead life will be presenting us with a new equilibrium. We have to bet on the new social dynamics making for change.
On the threshold of a new election, the party needs to take a fresh look at itself, and to make a move intended to close the scissors gap of quality. Otherwise it may not be able to escape resembling all the other parties.