Turkey’s ‘Victory of Democracy’: July 15, 2016 Ended Era of Coups, Says Parliament Speaker

Turkey’s Parliament Speaker, Numan Kurtulmus, stated that the Turkish people ended the country’s long history of military coups on July 15, 2016. He called the public resistance to the failed coup attempt a “victory of democracy” and a triumph of the “national will.” Speaking on the anniversary of the event, Kurtulmus emphasized that the night of July 15 marked a turning point for the nation. He described the uprising against the coup plotters as a decisive moment that closed a chapter of political instability. The speaker’s comments highlight the government’s official narrative that the 2016 attempt was the last such challenge to civilian rule. The event, which saw citizens take to the streets to confront military forces, resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries. Kurtulmus framed the resistance not just as a defense of the current government, but as a collective stand by the people against any future military intervention in politics.