Atumultuous episode in Turkey’s democratisation process ended with the Solomonic decision of the constitutional court on Wednesday. Despite the conviction of 10 of its members that the ruling Justice and Development party, the AKP, was engaged in anti-secular activities, the court did not decide that the party should be closed down. It simply cut the amount the party received from the Treasury by half.

The court put the AKP on probation with this ruling. Hasim Kilıç, head of the court, said it was assumed the AKP would draw the right conclusions from its ordeal and act accordingly. The prosecutor-general could initiate a new case against the party if he determined that anti-secular activities continued. In a broader context, the ruling meant the days of closing parties, so long as they did not either promote or engage in violence, were over. From now on Turkey’s political problems and its struggles for power will have to be settled in the political realm.