A carved Turkey

The reactions on Monday in Turkey to the sentences handed down in the Ergenekon affair proved just how much the country today is divided: Islamists-secularists against secularist-liberalists. Because the army suffered a significant blow yesterday, and because it is the institution that safeguards the country's democratic secular constitution, the court's verdicts are undoubtedly another victory for Erdogan and his ability to show patience.

Turkey has a unique character, which even the EU struggled to understand the nature of back when bringing Turkey into the EU was an actual possibility. The left-wing parties and liberal parties stand alongside the military, a long tradition dating back to the days of modern Turkey's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. This is why we witnessed such different reactions in Turkey on Monday: One side spoke of the severe blow to democracy; the other side said democracy had been defended.

From the liberal opposition's perspective, hurting the army only serves to strengthen the Islamists, who are increasingly becoming stronger at the expense of their political rivals. The Ergenekon trial has put a muffle on the constitution's watchdog, the army.

In contrast, the Islamist government sees, somewhat ironically, restraining the army as bringing Turkey closer to a modern society. The army, after all, was responsible for three coup attempts between 1960 and 1980. As far it is concerned, Erdogan's Justice and Development Party prevents coups from taking place and allows the people to decide, at the voting booths, who will lead the country. From Erdogan's view, the voter, not the general, will decide.

Ankara strongly condemned the overthrow of former Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi by the military last month. Turkey was supposed to teach the Arab street a lesson on how a Muslim country can be a democracy. In the meantime, Erdogan is teaching the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and other places a better lesson in how an Islamist government manages to maintain its status, and how it does so by essentially removing obstacles. In Turkey's case, the largest obstacle, the army, has been removed.

Ergenekon is the mythological valley that was the birthplace of the Turkish people. From now it will also be remembered as the mythological valley to which the Turkish army was cast away.

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