Vibrant Turkish democracy

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan-led Justice and Development Party (AKP) has won its third consecutive term in office, confirming the fact that Turkish democracy has finally acquired the much-needed primacy over military-managed governance. That AKP polled some five million more votes in the June 12 general election than its tally in the last election in 2007 clearly indicates the Turkish electorate's growing trust in the continued guidance provided by the party's dynamic leadership.
AKP is a moderate Islamic party and has gained popular support over the past decade or so, largely snatching the Turkey's political turf from the ultra-secular Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi (CHP) - which too has made some gains over its past performance, paving the way over time for a two-party system in Turkey. During the election campaign, the AKP unfolded its vision of transforming the political culture of Turkey envisaged in the Haddaf-2023 vision that it said would come through constitutional reforms.
But it is short of the two-thirds majority by four votes in the newly elected Grand National Assembly, which it would need to amend the constitution. Recept Tayyip Erdogan wants Turkey to have a presidential form of government like France and the United States. He hopes to get this support from other parties inside and outside the parliament, according to his victory speech.
Under the Turkish military's stronghold over the country for many decades Turkey remained an economically mismanaged country. But it is with Erdogan's quality of leadership that Turkey's economic potential, which lay dormant, has bounced back and the country is no more a basket case. Under his stewardship, the economy has grown at the rate of 8.9 percent that is the most dynamic among the European economies. Turkey is now the 17th largest economy in the world and is confidently moving on to meet its goal to be one of the top ten. Not that AKP's heightened political-cum-diplomatic role in the region or its religious credentials has brought it electoral victory; it is the party's singular contribution to reducing poverty that has won it more and more public support. Over the last decade, the number of people living below the poverty line has been brought down to a single digit percentage.
Per capita income in Turkey has grown from less than $3000 in 2000 to $10,000 in 2010. In the words of Turkish Foreign Minister Professor Dr Ahmet Davutoglu who is widely regarded for his country's 'zero-problem with neighbours' foreign policy: "Turkey is a giant which has woken up". No doubt economic prosperity has led to political stability in Turkey and democracy is flourishing.
Turkey's phenomenal progress under Prime Minister Erdogan is no doubt a matter of great satisfaction for the Turkish people. But its transformation from a history-conscious status quo nation to a modern state is no less inspiring to other Muslim countries. What we see in Turkey today is happening under the control of a party which has deep roots in Islam and its leadership is closely wedded to their Islamic way of life. But the AKP has proved those of them wrong who want to keep their people fossilised in the past in the name of religion.