Turks want post-coup attempt political thaw to continue: Poll

An overwhelming majority of Turkish citizens support a continuation of the relative thaw in the country's politics in the aftermath of the failed July 15 coup attempt, according to the results of a new poll.

The survey by polling company Pollmark, conducted with 3,000 people across the country between Aug. 12 and Aug. 18, showed that 90.1 percent of Turks are happy with the warm relations between opposition parties, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and want a reconciliation process between the parties to continue. The supporters of reconciliation were 97 percent among AKP supporters and 84 percent among supporters of opposition parties. 

According to the same poll, 88.2 percent of Turks agreed that "the July 15 coup attempt was made by a group within the Turkish military linked to Fethullah Gülen," the U.S.-based Islamic preacher whose followers are accused of masterminding the coup attempt.

Commenting on the poll results, AKP lawmaker Ertan Aydın, who also owns Pollmark, said Turkish citizens had heralded "the start of a new political era by stopping the coup attempt."

"It is now essential to build a political code and social contract free of paranoia, in which all sides keep their cards open, no one bluffs anyone else, and everyone can express their thoughts and values in public without fear," Aydın said. 

He added that this could be guaranteed by the preparation of a new constitution with broad participation and agreement.

Aydın said the fundamental message given by the citizens who took to the streets after July 15 was that "we no longer want secrets; everything should be done transparently."

According to the poll, 49.7 percent of Turks participated in...