WH warns Erdogan: Democracy is essential

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that his government is imposing a three-month state of emergency to stabilize the nation after the failed attempt to oust him from power. In his statement about the state of emergency, Erdogan pledged to cleanse the military of any “viruses” that remain.

Presidential press secretary Josh Earnest pointedly reminded Erdogan that he only repelled last week’s bloody coup because of his commitment to democracy, implying that support from the U.S and other NATO allies may not be there next time if he cracks down too hard.

“Turkey succeeded in fighting off the military coup because of the strength of that country’s and those citizens to democracy,” he said. “Turkey has a long tradition of democracy. These are principles that are enshrined in their constitution, and even in this time of turmoil it is critical that the democratically elected civilian government of Turkey protect them.”

Earnest said President Obama drove home the same point during a phone call with Erdogan earlier this week.

It’s “understandable,” he said, that Erdogan is going to take steps “to get to the bottom of what happened” and ensure “accountability” for those trying to topple him.

“But it’s important, moving forward, that the democratic institutions that were critical to the success in repelling the coup emerge stronger than ever,” Earnest said.

Erdogan just this past March has said democracy and freedom have “absolutely no value” in the country and has called for journalists, lawyers and critical politicians to be prosecuted as terrorists. He has also systematically cracked down on Turkey’s journalists, shutting down media outlets and ordering the beatings, arrests and prosecutions of journalists.

During a speech at the Brookings Institution in Washington in March, Erdogan’s security detail manhandled protesters and journalists alike, forcing the D.C. police to intervene.