Purges in the public sector after the failed July 2016 coup

Since the failed coup, all the main political parties have announced their support for the government and taken part in joint rallies, a new development in a traditionally divided political landscape. The recent ISIL/Da’esh terror attack at a Kurdish wedding also pushed the president to defend the idea of a united Turkey, including Turkish Kurds. The long-term consequences of the coup remain unclear: the fight against the Gülen movement may push the AKP to seek cooperation with the opposition parties and Kemalists. Nevertheless, the purge might confirm an illiberal turn in Turkish politics, because against a backdrop of global crisis, both external and internal, any critical stand against the government can be considered unpatriotic and used against political opponents. The post-coup situation may also provide President Erdogan with an opportunity to change the constitution in favour of the executive presidency he has been calling for over the last year. Nevertheless, it seems that the military operations in Syria and post-coup purges remain in line with NATO membership and the EU accession objective. Statements about a possible return to the death penalty, unacceptable to the EU, have since been softened by Turkish officials in discussions on accession.