The Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is a politician not known for subtly. His reaction to the failed coup may soon make many Turks regret the military's lack of success. Erdogan's political ambitions are almost without limit. Now his name is the law - backed up with popular support (at least for the time being). Who knows - will he make himself president for life?
[A note on the margin: Was Erdogan behind the coup attempt? This is possible considering how badly it was executed. Whether this is true or not, Erdogan's powers are now almost boundless].
What we know now is the attempted coup was planned and executed by a small number of army officers. They justified their actions with the following statement:
"Turkish Armed Forces have completely taken over the administration of the country to reinstate constitutional order, human rights and freedoms, the rule of law and general security that was damaged. All international agreements are still valid. We hope that all of our good relationships with all countries will continue."The irony of these words should be obvious to all: what the plotters hoped to regain for Turkey will certainly be lost as Erdogan exacts his gleeful revenge. The plotters had hoped to restore political stability to the country; the only thing they succeeded in doing is just the opposite.
Comment: For another perspective on the fate of post-coup Turkey, check out: Will post-coup Turkey take its place in the New Eurasian Century?