“There will be maximum sensitivity on economic freedom”, deputy prime minister Mehmet Simsek told NTV television on Thursday.
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President Tayyip Erdogan announced the plan for a state of emergency late on Wednesday saying it would enable the authorities to move swiftly and effectively to root out supporters of the abortive coup.
Under the terms of the Turkish constitution, lawmakers in the 550-member parliament have to approve a request for a state of emergency.
Erdogan made the announcement during a live television broadcast in front of government ministers after a almost five-hour meeting of the National Security Council. There’ll be no backsliding from democracy and no pause in economic reforms, even as the “virus” of the coup-plotters is wiped out, he said.
It added that a total of 15,200 employees from education ministry, 1,577 deans, 492 clerics, 8,800 police, 6,000 soldiers and 2,700 judges have been dismissed from their duties during the ongoing purge of President Erdogan and the Justice and development Party ruling government after the failed coup attempt. Appropriately, Secretary of State John F. Kerry said that the US would consider a request for Gulen’s extradition only if Turkey offered “legitimate evidence that withstands scrutiny”.
For the authoritarian Mr Erdogan, it has been a huge “told you so” moment vindicating the increasingly conspiratorial tone of his speeches about the dark forces at work within the Turkish state.
Other special provisions include longer detention of suspects without trial.
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The failed coup also strengthens Turkey’s position with large global players, reaffirming its status as the stable North Atlantic Treaty Organisation bulwark in the east. The US released a statement that reaffirmed its absolute support for Turkey’s government. Erdogan’s government was already under fire from rights groups for suppressing media criticism and interfering with courts. But Turkey also benefits from its association with Europe and the United States. Federica Mogherini, the head of foreign affairs for the European Union, which Turkey aspires to join, stressed “the importance of the rule of law prevailing” in that country. “This is in the interest of Turkey itself, since anything else would damage the country and weaken Turkey, internally and externally”.
