"There are no alternatives to democracy". It was declared to SIR by Msgr. Luigi Padovese today, the apostolic vicar of Anatolia and president of the Turkish Bishops' Conference, on the day after the massacre happened in Istanbul yesterday, after the explosion of two bombs. The bishop talked about "feelings of anxiety" and immediately recalled that the Turkish Constitutional Court met today to decide on the banishment of the AK government party, accused of the will to introduce the Islamic Law into the lay country with Muslim majority. "We are expecting the judgement of the Constitutional Court - said the bishop - to know which decisions it will take. These bombs have a very clear character: destabilizing a situation which is already restless enough. It is clear that one day before the judgement day, the whole thing can only be understood in this way". "The appeal which we can launch is worth less than nothing. Moreover, we are not such a representative entity. However, the appeal - added the bishop - is for letting democracy prevail within this country". "The current problems - commented Msgr. Padovese -, are linked with power positions. There is the need to safeguard and, at the same time, the right to give this laity a democratic expression. A democracy always includes risks, but there are no alternatives to democracy. Until now, the situation of Turkey remained unchanged exactly owing to power forces opposing each other. It is somewhat like pulling a rope: neither one nor the other will ever prevail, and will always remain halfway".

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