There are now many who speak of "revenge" by commenting the reaction of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the attempted coup occurred on the evening of 15 July. He had promised: "We will clean up all the institutions of the state" to free them from the "virus" that started the revolt that led to the failed coup d'état. Judging by the number of purges and arrests carried out in the last three days, the AKP leader is keeping his word.
A large-scale punitive action affecting magistrates, judges, military and police. Purges that not only arouse deep concern in the international community, but which raise doubts about the link between the purges and the coup.
Over the last two days there have been rumors, conjectures and alleged explanations about what happened. But now an official statement has also arrived from the European commissioner engaged in negotiating Turkey's accession to the European Union which can hardly be ignored. Second Johannes Hann, the Ankara government is allegedly taking advantage of the failed coup to strike the country's internal opposition. But there's more: Erdogan "had prepared" the lists of those arrested before the attempted coup and was just waiting for the right moment to implement his plan. Speaking ahead of the foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, Hahn said: "That's exactly what we feared."
In the meantime, the Turkish authorities continue their "cleansing" work: 30 out of 81 prefects have been suspended. In total, 8.777 Interior Ministry employees were relieved of their posts, including 7.899 policemen, 614 gendarmes and 47 governors of provincial districts. Provisions that are added to those taken previously and concerning 12 people already suspended by the police and judiciary and about 1.500 employees of the Ministry of Finance relieved of their duties.
A very harsh reaction that has created indignation in the EU and the US. Brussels and Washington have asked Turkey to respect "democracy, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law” in response to the attempted coup.
The words of the are very heavy Germany that speaks of "revolting episodes of arbitrary justice and revenge" against soldiers suspected of having participated in the attempted coup. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman said. “In the first hours after the failed coup we saw – explained Steffen Seibert at the government press conference – gruesome scenes of arbitrariness and revenge against the soldiers in the middle of the street. Such a fact is unacceptable."
On background, the possible reintroduction of the death penalty, a choice which according to what the chancellor said would mean “the end of the negotiations for entry into the European Union”. However, Ankara does not seem to be too worried and replies as follows: "The desire for the death penalty expressed by our citizens is an order for us, but making a hasty decision would be wrong". "The proponents of the coup in Turkey - Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim reiterated - will realize it but within the framework of the law".
In the meantime keep going up there tension between Türkiye and the US. The Turkish Minister of Labor, according to what was reported by the BBC, said that Washington would be behind the attempted coup d'état. Hypotheses rejected by the sender by the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, who warned Ankara against what he called "public insinuations", underlining how such statements "damage relations between the two countries".
