26.05.2026 17:50
President Erdoğan received the families of Prime Minister Adnan Menderes, Foreign Minister Fatin Rüştü Zorlu, Finance Minister Hasan Polatkan, as well as former President Celal Bayar and Interior Minister Namık Gedik, who were executed following the May 27, 1960 coup, a dark stain on Turkish democratic history.
On the anniversary of the May 27, 1960 coup, the families of prominent figures in Turkish democratic history were received by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Dolmabahçe Working Office.
At the reception held at the Dolmabahçe Working Office, attendees included Işık Menderes, grandson of the late Prime Minister Adnan Menderes; Fatin Rüştü Yener, grandson of Foreign Minister Fatin Rüştü Zorlu; Hasan Polatkan Atlı, grandson of Finance Minister Hasan Polatkan; Prof. Dr. Emine Gürsoy Naskali, granddaughter of President Celal Bayar; and Namık Gedik, grandson of Interior Minister Namık Gedik.
Also present at the reception were AK Party Deputy Chairman Kürşad Zorlu, Presidential Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, Presidential Chief Advisor Akif Çağatay Kılıç, and Confederation of Democrats Chairman Fatih Kavaloğlu.
TEXT HE WROTE IN THE GUEST BOOK IN 2000 PRESENTED TO ERDOĞAN
The meeting, held on the 66th anniversary of the coup that left deep marks on Turkish democratic history, carries symbolic significance for the "memory of national will and democracy." During the visit, the families presented to Erdoğan the text of a message he wrote in the guest book on September 17, 2000, when he visited the mausoleums of the late Adnan Menderes, Fatin Rüştü Zorlu, and Hasan Polatkan.
JOINT STATEMENT FROM FAMILIES
Following the meeting, the delegation issued a written statement on behalf of the coup victims. The statement included the following expressions:
"On the occasion of the anniversary of the May 27, 1960 intervention, we, as family representatives of the late statesmen and politicians who left their mark on Turkish democratic history, are honored to be received for the first time by our esteemed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Dolmabahçe Working Office. During our meeting, the cherished memories of the late Prime Minister Adnan Menderes, Foreign Minister Fatin Rüştü Zorlu, Finance Minister Hasan Polatkan, President Celal Bayar, Interior Minister Namık Gedik, and other statesmen of the period were commemorated, and discussions were held on the historical importance of protecting the national will, democratic order, and the rule of law. We observe that the impact of the democracy and development vision represented by our late statesmen on Turkish political life continues to be strongly felt today."