Gulen AKP – What is the relationship between the Gülen Movement and the Justice and Development Party (AKP)?

Gulen AKP

AKP, Justice and Development Party  was founded in August 2001 and won majority in the parliament in the November 2002 general election by 34.3%. AKP has become the dominant party in Turkish politics since 2002 election. It has won all the election as the first party in following years: In 2004 local election, AKP won 42% of the votes; in July 2007 general election, AKP won 46.6% of the votes; in March 2009 local election, AKP won 38.95% of the votes. In the latest general election in June 2011, AKP received 49.9% of the total votes, and became the government third time.

The AKP portrays itself as a moderate and conservative party, which advocates a liberal market economy and Turkish membership in the European Union. It has adopted several economic and democratic reforms in accord with the European Union.  During the AKP government, EU started negotiations starting on 3 October 2005 with Turkey.  According to Jon Gorvertt, AKP has advanced the country’s march toward European Union (EU) membership more than any other party in Turkish history, while also opening up Turkey’s economy to foreign investment and international trade more than any other.

These reforms, especially democratic reforms put AKP to pro-coup generals in Turkish military. During its governance, AKP has been target of several unsuccessful military coup d’états. During the 2007 elections both general and presidential elections, these efforts became so clear that the Turkish General Staff’s website published a post modern coup document. These coup attempts backfired, and AKP won almost the half of the votes in the nation. Most political analysts saw 46.6% vote for AKP as a response to these anti-democratic efforts of military personnel.

Due to its economic and democratic reforms AKP received open support even from the Patriarch Mesrob II Mutafyan, the religious leader of the Turkish Armenian community.  Patriarch Mutafyan, speaking to the German weekly Der Spiegel, claimed the Armenian community would prefer the AKP during the 2007 election[1]. Mutafyan said: “The Armenians prefer supporting AKP. AKP’s position towards national minorities is satisfactory. Erdogan’s overnment always respected our demands; therefore, Armenian electors will probably support AKP.”[2]

AKP, which is portrayed as an Islamist party, received support not only from Armenian minorities but also from other non-Muslim minorities.

It can be easily assumed that it is these policies and reforms of AKP that attracts votes (almost 50%) of Turkish population, and some people in the Gulen Movement also voted for AKP in previous elections.

AKP and its reform policies are under harsh critics and attacks. Recent investigations revealed several coup attempts against AKP by retired and active military personnel, including some very high-ranking generals (e.g. Sarıkız (blond girl), Ayışığı (moon light), Yakamoz (bioluminescence), Eldiven  (glove), Kafes (cage), and Balyoz (sledgehammer).

Thus, the support that the AKP received from different groups within the Turkish population should be understood under these conditions. Most of the Turkish population was not happy with the authoritarian elite regime; they wanted liberal democracy; and currently the AKP offers the best option compared to other parties: CHP and MHP.