The “Cold War” era that emerged after the Second World War not only hindered the development of the world economy but also caused the democratic development process to slow down on a global scale and brought along problematic structures where civilian and military bureaucracy had excess power and the elected governments frequently struggled to overcome bureaucratic obstacles. However democracy should be based on “National Will”. After the Cold War, the countries made intense efforts to create processes that would ensure full participation of people in democracy and manifestation of the national will through economic and democratic reforms. As reforms gained pace, there were periods when the bureaucracy resisted to not to lose its power. This delayed the formation of a structure in Turkish economy dominated by the private sector where SMEs come to fore.
During the Cold War period, Turkey’s democracy was disrupted in every 10 years. Problems related to political stability negatively affected the development of Turkish economy. In the early 1980s, Turkey had an export volume of just 3 billion dollars as public institutions dominated 65 percent of the economy. In tourism, the number of beds was even below the number in Rhodes Island. The economic crises of 1994 and 2001 reduced the national income per capita to two thousand dollars which was over 3 thousand dollars at the end of intense efforts, and throughout 1990’s Turkey went through a period where economic and political confidence were gradually lost. Since 2003, for 14 years, AK Party has been in power alone, and with the economic and democratic reforms introduced, the bar has been raised. The big change observed in Turkey’s global image has allowed Turkey to regain confidence in economy and politics.
As Turkey regained confidence, a record growth of 7.4 percent was achieved with private sector investments between 2003 and 2006, and that was a huge leap for the private sector with regard to its weight and dominance in the economy. The economic structure strengthened by economic reforms, endured the global financial crisis of 2008 and Turkey became one of the five countries that achieved positive growth, successively in 27 quarters, after the 2008 global financial crisis. This reinforced the position of Turkey as a playmaker in Eurasia, the country to change Eurasia’s destiny. And Turkey achieved this by eliminating numerous betrayals and operations with its people, its business world and government. From 2006 onwards, Turkey was subjected to tens of political attacks, manipulations, perception operations and attempts to start a civil war such as the assassination of Hrant Dink, the AK Party closure trial, Gezi events, December 17-25, October 6-7 events, and all were successfully eliminated.
The treacherous coup attempt staged by FETÖ on the night of July 15th, was the most brutal, cruel, and bloody operation targeting Turkey’s political and economic stability as well as unity and solidarity. Maybe they hoped that Turkish people who could not sufficiently react to the military coups staged in the previous years using different methods, would not react to this bloody and brutal coup attempt on July 15th which was an attempt to drag Turkey into civil war. However, the stagers of this treacherous attempt could not foresee the epic heroism Turkish people would show. Turkish people had regained self-confidence, claimed democracy and economy by clearly exhibiting who the country belongs to. Turkish people of all ages, accounted for 75% of Turkish economy, who produce three times more added value compared to 15 years ago and make 150 billion dollars of export to the world, took the streets aware of the fact that the democracy they strengthened was the only hope for transformation of Eurasia. They stopped the tanks and airplanes with the unquestionable power of “national will” and faith. They made history, unprecedented in world politics, and struggled to claim democracy.
On the morning of July 16th began an era in which Turkey’s “national will” would rule all processes, and no one at home and abroad would dare to intervene in the fate and future of Turkey today or in the future. And on April 16th, 2017, in order to reinforce and institutionalize this epic struggle of Turkish people who achieved to claim democracy, people voted and a referendum was held where Turkish democracy passed a historic threshold. The Presidential Government System that arose after the Referendum on April 16th, paved the way for a mental transformation befitting 21st century in three main pillars of democracy, legislation, enforcement and jurisdiction. This transformation will introduce to the texture of Turkey a new working culture based on corporate governance principles. We are talking about a solution-oriented, performance-based, accountability-driven culture where Turkey is focused on high added value.
Such that an improved quality in democracy and economy, will pave the way for a governance approach focused on “sustainability” and “transparency” where the world of political and business support each other. The government model of New Turkey will bring such a “revolutionary” perspective to working of public administration and bureaucracy that the reforms will speed up Turkish economy. From new “growth model” to “improvement of investment medium”, from an efficient employment market to “RE-DO focused on high technology” move, critical steps to make “political stability” lasting will be taken. April 16th referendum cleared the way for New Turkey, and Presidential Government System will enable Turkey to attain a “pro-dynamic” structure. Turkey will shape a decision-making process where natural and financial equities can be utilized more efficiently.
Particularly in the field of economy, in order to hasten growth and development, and to efficiently take advantage of opportunities, a new Economy Administration model will be formed which will make decision-making processes faster and simpler. Ministers and bureaucrats of new economy administration, will be subjected to an elaborate performance assessment process. A former local politician and administrator, President Erdoğan will transform his proactive working and leadership skills of 41 years, to a pro-dynamic working process through a “team-work approach” which will place Turkish economy among those of prestigious world countries. Presidential Government System model will pave the way for Turkey to take fast and effective decisions in economy, public administration and security through a professional government approach. “Adjustment” laws and reforms to make the political model change meaningful, will considerably contribute in Turkey’s skill of creating added value.
This is why, as of April 17th, we will enter an intense working phase for “New Turkey” based on local-national energy, defence, transportation, logistics, science and technological opportunities. This will require realization of a new “production and employment” friendly growth model in economy, dominated by production, industry and agriculture. The primary goal is to raise Turkish economy’s share in global national income and trade to 1,5 percent for 2023-2025 period. To attain such a goal, a transformation which will allow creation of an efficient economical structure based on local opportunities, resources and skills, is in order. With this aspect, Presidential Government System will actualize a strong will and motivation which will carry Turkey to its 2023, 2053 and 2071 goals.
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