Mr. Timur Kuran, that nearly half the Turkish population supports Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his AKP despite corruption scandals, has much to do with Turkey's history of corruption, which had long been an endemic part of its political system. The only difference between earlier governments and that of the AKP is that the former were corrupt as well as inefficient, if not disastrous. The AKP government, though corrupt, had delivered economic growth and provided better income and higher standard of living for ordinary Turks. The AKP came to power in 2002 and seemed to have kept a relatively clean record until recently.

For Erdogan's admirers the corruption allegations raise barely a shrug, while he increasingly is reviled across Turkey and his image gets tarnished abroad. Be they Anatolian peasants or members of the urban conservative, lower middle-class, they appreciate what he has done. He let the previously disadvantaged segments of society to share the benefits of the past decade's economic growth, His government has built roads and bridges. Women can wear headscarves.

Yet some, who used to like Erdogan, have been alienated by his "authoritarian streak" and feel that his divide-and-rule governance is dangerous. They don't see him as a prime minister for every Turk, saying he polarises the country by pitting the rich against poor, Muslims against seculars etc. On the other hand Erdogan's supporter don't want the return of the main opposition Republican People's party (CHP), fearing they would face discrimination and lose their rights again. In the past they felt neglected by governments led by the Kemalist elites.

Erdogan's combative spirit and populist rhetoric appeal to many Turks, who want to be taken seriously. They support a leader, who doesn't hesitate to take on the entrenched elite as well as global powers. Others have a hard time to put up with his impetuos rants.

Turkey's population seems to be marked by class - rural and urban - as well as regional divisions between the AKP supporters and its opponents. So far all political parties have failed to unify the country. So AKP's victory in the local elections doesn't, however, resolve the basic conundrum facing the party and the country: how to forge national reconciliation and close the divide between Islam and secularism.

