29.10.2024 07:30
After the liberation of Anatolia from enemy occupation, a new chapter in Turkish history was opened with the declaration of the Republic by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on October 29, 1923, and the phrase "Sovereignty unconditionally belongs to the nation" took its place in the governance of the state in the most prominent way. The torch of independence, ignited by the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's landing in Samsun on May 19, 1919, continues to burn thanks to the great struggle of the Turkish nation.
The independence torch ignited by the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's landing in Samsun on May 19, 1919, continues to burn thanks to the great struggle of the Turkish nation.
The existence of the new Turkish state was certified with the signing of the Lausanne Treaty on July 24, 1923.
Two months after the second term of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey convened, on October 13, 1923, Ankara became the government center of Turkey. It was now necessary to clearly define the name of the existing regime and to elect the president of the new state.
Until that day, the presidency was held by Mustafa Kemal Pasha as the President of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. On the other hand, some foreign countries wanted the new state regime in Turkey to be defined more clearly for the approval of the Lausanne Treaty.
The resignation of the Council of Ministers on October 27, 1923, and the inability to form a cabinet that would gain the confidence of the Assembly also required an urgent solution to the problem.
"TOMORROW WE WILL PROCLAIM THE REPUBLIC"
Due to the failure to establish a government by the evening of October 28, 1923, Mustafa Kemal Pasha had a table prepared for his friends at the Çankaya Mansion by Latife Hanım.
During the dinner attended by İsmet Pasha, Ali Fuat Pasha, Halit Pasha, and Kemalettin Sami Bey, Mustafa Kemal Pasha recounted the events in his speech, Nutuk, as follows:
"It was night... As I was leaving the Assembly building to go to Çankaya, I encountered Kemalettin Sami and Halit Pasha, who were waiting for me in the corridors. I had read in that day's newspaper under the headline 'A Farewell and A Welcome' that Ali Fuat Pasha had come to Ankara. I had not yet met with them. When I realized that they had been waiting there until late to speak with me, I informed them through the Minister of National Defense, Kazım Pasha, to come to dinner. I also told İsmet Pasha, Kazım Pasha, and Fethi Bey to come to Çankaya with me. When I arrived at Çankaya, I met with Rize Deputy Fuat and Afyonkarahisar Deputy Ruşen Eşref Bey, who had come to see me. I also invited them to dinner.
During the meal, I said: 'Tomorrow we will proclaim the Republic.' The friends present immediately agreed with my idea. We stopped eating. From that moment on, I assigned friends to prepare a short program on how to proceed. You will see the implementation of the program I made and the instructions I gave.
Gentlemen, you see that I did not see any need to invite all my friends in Ankara to discuss and debate the decision to proclaim the Republic. Because I had no doubt that they thought like me, in essence and naturally. However, some individuals who were not in Ankara at that time, without any authority, without being informed, and without their thoughts and consent, considered the proclamation of the republic as a reason to be offended and to separate from us."
"THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY WILL BE HAPPY, SUCCESSFUL, AND VICTORIOUS"
That night, Mustafa Kemal Pasha prepared a draft law amending some articles of the 1921 Constitution with İsmet Pasha for the survival of the country.
The proposal, which included the provision "The form of government of the Turkish state is the republic," was accepted by all 158 members present at the session at 20:30 after the discussions held in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The proclamation of the Republic was met with cheers of "Long live the Republic" and applause.
Thus, the management style of the new state was clearly defined. With the proclamation of the Republic, the principle "Sovereignty unconditionally belongs to the nation" also found its place in state governance in the most distinct form.
Then, the presidential election was held. In the secret ballot, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who received the votes of all 158 deputies, was elected as the first president of the new Turkish state by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Upon this, Mustafa Kemal Pasha, who came to the podium, concluded his speech with the words, "The Republic of Turkey will be happy, successful, and victorious."
Thus, discussions regarding the name and regime of the state were concluded, and the issue of the presidency was resolved. The method of forming the government was reorganized.
Accordingly, the president would appoint the prime minister, and the prime minister would select his ministers and present them for the president's approval. With this practice, the parliamentary regime was adopted instead of the Assembly Government System.
BEGUN TO BE CELEBRATED AS "NATIONAL HOLIDAY"
While İsmet İnönü was tasked with forming the first government, Fethi Okyar was also elected as the President of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
The Turkish people celebrated the proclamation of the republic on the night of October 29 and the day of October 30. With the decree published on October 26, 1924, it was decided to celebrate the proclamation of the republic with 101 cannon shots and organized events.
According to the decision, the events on October 29, 1924, marked the beginning of the celebrations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposed with a bill on February 2, 1925, that October 29 be declared a holiday. The proposal was examined by the Constitutional Commission of the Assembly and was decided on April 18.
With the acceptance of the proposal in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on April 19, October 29 began to be celebrated as a "national holiday" from 1925 onwards.
As of 2024, the Republic of Turkey is celebrating its 101st anniversary with enthusiasm and faith.