Grown considerably during the Second World War, and profoundly modernized in its structures thanks to the help of the United States, the army was seen by young officers above all as an instrument of national unity and progress, in substantial continuity with the vision of the secularized state that had inspired Ataturk’s reforms. General Gursel was placed at the head of a National Unity Committee which assumed full powers and prepared the passing of a new Constitution. Approved by a referendum in May 1961, the new charter provided for a bicameral parliament, composed of a Senate and a National Assembly, and entrusted the election of the president to the two combined chambers. The elections of 1961 assigned the relative majority to the People’s Republican Party, closely followed by the new Justice Party, founded on the initiative of the military to replace the Democratic Party dissolved in the aftermath of the coup. Gursel was elected president of the Republic, while Inonu, at the head of successive coalition governments between the Republican People’s Party and some minor forces, attempted, with the launch of a five-year plan (1962) and the signing of an association agreement with the CEE (1963), the revival of the country’s economy.
According to ehotelat, the 1965 elections, however, marked a clear victory for the Justice Party, whose leader Suleyman Demirel formed a one-color government. at the helm of successive coalition governments between the Republican People’s Party and some minor forces, he attempted, with the launch of a five-year plan (1962) and the signing of an association agreement with the EEC (1963), to revive the economy of the country. The 1965 elections, however, marked a clear victory for the Justice Party, whose leader Suleyman Demirel formed a one-color government. at the helm of successive coalition governments between the Republican People’s Party and some minor forces, he attempted, with the launch of a five-year plan (1962) and the signing of an association agreement with the EEC (1963), to revive the economy of the country. The 1965 elections, however, marked a clear victory for the Justice Party, whose leader Suleyman Demirel formed a one-color government.
At the end of the 1960s the internal situation, faced with the presence of serious economic problems, was characterized by the strengthening of social tensions, the spread of political violence and the emergence of inter-ethnic and religious tensions in the south-eastern provinces. Furthermore, on the international level, the intervention of the Turkish Armed Forces in support of the Turkish-speaking community in Cyprus led to a serious deterioration in relations with Greece. Considered unable to cope with the ongoing political and social crisis, the Demirel government, following the explicit pronouncement of the leaders of the Armed Forces, resigned in March 1971. A series of coalition governments followed, composed of technocrats and bureaucrats, as well as by politicians, with the support of the military and the consent of the National Assembly, whose purpose was above all to restore order. Martial law was instituted; the Constitution was amended to restrict personal freedoms; clashes with far-left movements led to arrests and convictions; the Islamic-inspired National Party of Order, which had been founded only the previous year, was suppressed. Leading governments in recent years were mainly Demirel, in coalition with far-right forces, and Bulent Ecevit, former Minister of Labor with Inonu and then leader of the left-wing opposition within the PRP, of which he assumed the presidency in 1972. The second half of the 1970s was characterized by a further deterioration of internal security, with clashes between opposing factions in universities and, in the eastern regions, between military and guerrilla movements. In September 1980, a military coup brought General Kenan Evren to power. At the head of a National Security Council, Evren imposed martial law, dissolved the National Assembly and banned political parties; in November 1982, following the approval of a new Constitution, he assumed the office of President of the Republic. The following year, in November, after the legalization of some political parties, new elections were held, which saw the victory of the Conservative-oriented Motherland Party; the National Security Council transferred power to the newly elected Parliament, and Motherland Party leader Turgut Ozal assumed leadership of the government. Ozal launched a liberal economic program, endowed the police with extensive powers, even after the withdrawal of martial law, and developed a strongly repressive policy towards the left forces and the Kurdish minority, which since the early 1980s had sided with separatist positions. A partial restoration of political freedoms occurred starting from 1987. The 1991 elections saw the affirmation of the Retta Via Party, a new formation born of the dissolved Justice Party under the direction of Demirel, which returned to political life after a decade of estrangement. forced. When Demirel took over the presidency of the Republic in 1993, the leadership of the party and the government was taken over by Mrs. Tansu Ciller. The 1991 elections saw the affirmation of the Retta Via Party, a new formation born of the dissolved Justice Party under the direction of Demirel, which returned to political life after a decade of forced removal. When Demirel took over the presidency of the Republic in 1993, the leadership of the party and the government was taken over by Mrs. Tansu Ciller. The 1991 elections saw the affirmation of the Retta Via Party, a new formation born of the dissolved Justice Party under the direction of Demirel, which returned to political life after a decade of forced removal. When Demirel took over the presidency of the Republic in 1993, the leadership of the party and the government was taken over by Mrs. Tansu Ciller.
