About the military coup

The reason the Turkish military chose to step into the political arena and perform a military coup three times in 30 years is to be found as far back as 1923 when Mustafa Kemal Atatürk formed the Turkish military.
As in all other countries, it was formed to protect the country from invasion. However, unlike other countries the Turkish military also functions as a protector of democracy. A way of thinking that emanated from Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
When the Turkish democracy is threatened the military steps forward to ensure that political extremists do not take over power and remove democracy.