Victory for democracy

The March 30 local elections will be written into the annals of Turkey's history of democracy in golden letters.

By receiving approximately 46 percent of the votes, the AK Party expressed an important message. What was that message?

Especially after the Dec. 17 attempt to redesign Turkish politics, I believe these elections lost all the attributes of a local election.

These elections were essentially a referendum on legitimate and illegitimate forces. A shadowy network that infiltrated into the state tried to reshape Turkish politics and topple the government.

What the military did with tanks and guns, the parallel structure tried to do with insidious cassettes and spying. Competition at the ballot box was not between political parties but between the AK Party and Pennsylvania.

As such, Sunday's elections were a first in Turkish political history. However, the public saw through this trickery and 46 percent support for the AK Party demonstrates the victory of the public protecting its will.

When I see the election results, I see the defeat belongs not to opposition parties but to Fethullah Gülen, who tried to control Turkish politics from Pennsylvania. The Gülen Movement's attempt to reshape Turkey in its image through its power within the police and the judiciary, coupled with the media organs it controls, was comprehensively defeated. In Gülen's hometown of Erzurum, the AK Party defeated not the Republican People's Party (CHP) or the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) but Pennsylvania. This also destroyed the myth of the Gülen Movement's political power, showing it was just empty talk. The prime minister receiving 46 percent support at a time when he is under severe criticism both inside and outside of Turkey after the Gezi Park and Dec. 17 operations showed that his connection to the grassroots is solid and public sentiment is reciprocated. This is something that needs to be closely analyzed.

These results also have positive implication concerning the reconciliation process with the Kurds. The Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) scored huge victories in certain cities. On the other hand, if one looks at the southeast in general, the AK Party's support was 47 percent against BDP's 27 percent. With the AK Party scoring over the national average in this region shows that the Kurds are supporting this process. The southeast is pleased with Turkey's progress and won't allow anyone to ruin it.

The AK Party needs to complete its victory with two initiatives. First of all, an Alevi initiative is crucial. Alevis have unfulfilled demands. As Turkish society moves toward peace, the party has plans for Alevis who feel disenfranchised. It is of utmost importance for these plans to be put into action.

These results also show that secular people feel marginalized, especially after Gezi. If the AK Party crowns its election victory with Alevi and secular initiatives, Turkey will truly find social peace.