Turkish Republic
Here is an overview of the Turkish Republic including how and when it was founder and information about The Turkish Constitution.
Turkish Republic Introduction
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and the founding of the Turkish Republic
At the end of the First World War, the Ottoman Empire, which had entered on the side of the Germans, was effectively occupied by the Allies. The Ottoman government was defeated and the sultanate had lost credibility. Mustafa Kemal a popular young General in the Ottoman army, who had remained undefeated throughout the war, emerged as the leader to take Turkey forward into a new era. During the War of Independence which lasted from 1919 – 1923, Mustafa Kemal was elected President of the Turkish Grand National Assembly which was inaugurated on April 23rd 1920 and, with his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismet Pasha, in 1923 he successfully negotiated the Lausanne Peace Treaty which set Turkey’s national borders and recognized Turkey’s right of sovereignty. The Turkish Republic was proclaimed on October 29th 1923.
Mustafa Kemal undertook a wide range of far-reaching reforms. In order for Turkey to become a modern nation, he believed that it was imperative to separate religious and state affairs. Faith became a matter of personal choice, Shariah courts were replaced by secular court and the religious school system was abolished. In 1937 the secularity of Turkey was added to the Constitution as a clause, making Turkey the only country with a predominantly Muslim population to be a secular state. Ataturk believed that Turkey’s future lay with the west, and embraced all aspects of modernity with enthusiasm, including adopting European dress. In 1925 the international (rather than the Islamic) time and calendar systems were adopted. The new Turkish alphabet was prepared by the Ministry of National Education, with the aim of increasing levels of literacy, and the move was made from the Arabic to the Latin alphabet. Ataturk saw the role of women as crucial to the development of the new Republic. Polygamy was prohibited, and by 1930 women had been granted the right to vote and to hold office in municipalities.
In 1934 all citizens had to adopt a surname and Mustafa Kemal was given the name ‘Ataturk’, ‘Father of the Turks’.
Ataturk died on November 10th 1938 in Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul. The clocks in the palace are all stopped at 09.05, the time that he died. Ataturk is buried in his capital, Ankara, in his imposing mausoleum, Anitkabir. Ataturk is revered in Turkey and you will notice that most offices have a picture of him on the wall. It is unacceptable to Turks to insult him or show disrespect, even in jest.
The Turkish Constitution
According to the Constitution, Turkey is a republic, and at the same time it is a democratic, laic and social state governed by the rule of law respecting human rights and committed to Ataturk’s principle and nationalism. Laicism is the important principle that the basic social, economic, political and legal order of the state may not rely, even partially, on religious rules. The constitution of the Republic of Turkey guarantees the rights of Turkish citizens to lead dignified lives and develop their material and spiritual being. Everyone is equal before the law and the Constitution does not allow any discrimination based on language, religion, denomination, race, skin colour, gender, political opinion, or philosophical beliefs.
The following clauses of the constitution cannot be amended:
• The Turkish State is a republic
• The Turkish State is an indivisible whole, with its country and nation
• The language of the Turkish State is Turkish
• The Turkish State has a flag with a white crescent and pentagram on a red background
• The national anthem of the Turkish State is the Istiklal Marsi (Independence March)
• The capital of the Turkish State is Ankara
Political Structure
The Republic of Turkey is based on a secular, democratic. The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) is comprised of 550 deputies elected every 5 years. Every Turkish citizen over the age of 18 has the right to vote and every Turkish citizen over the age of 30, who has completed primary education, has the right to stand for election. The nation is governed by the Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister. The President is the head of the State and represents the Republic of the Turkey Nation. The President is elected by the TGNA for a seven year term of office.
Turkey is a founding member of OECD, the Black Sea Economic Co-operation Organisation, a member of NATO, the Council of Europe, The Islamic Conference Association and an associate member of the European Union.
Turkey and the EU
Turkey first applied for associate membership of the EEC in 1957 and signed an association agreement in 1963. An application for full membership of the EC was made in 1987 and turned down 2 years later. A customs union with the EU was signed in 1995 and Turkey was recognised as a candidate for membership in 1999. Membership talks to join the EU began on 3rd October 2005.
Population
According to the 2000 census, 67,844,000 people live in Turkey, with 64.9% living in urban areas. The province of Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, recorded a population of over 10 million. Turkey is a country with a young population aged 14 or under and only 5.6% aged over 65, compared to overall EU figures of 17.2% and 15.7% respectively.
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