Historically the Turkish military held considerable sway over politics. The rise of Mr. Erdogan to power in 2002 had challenged the military both ideologically and institutionally. At this moment, Mr. Erdogan appeared to have tamed the strong military and established the authority of his civilian government over the whole of Turkish institutions. It could also be a larger military revolt given that Mr. Erdogan is now weak and is dependent on the armed forces. Despite the public opposition and warning from the military, the government supported the election of Abdullah Gul as the country's president in 2007.

Source: The Hindu July 16, 2016 04:36 UTC