29.10.2025 07:40
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 (TBMM) on October 29, 1923, under the leadership of the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The phrase "Sovereignty unconditionally belongs to the nation" also took its place in the governance of the state in the most prominent way.
The torch of independence ignited by the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, with his landing in Samsun on May 19, 1919, has never extinguished thanks to the great struggle of the Turkish nation.
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk told Mazhar Müfit Bey at the Erzurum Congress that "the form of government after victory would be a republic," but he kept this thought a national secret because his close circle and society were not yet accustomed to the republican system.
A NEW ERA BEGAN IN THE LIFE OF THE TURKISH NATION
With the opening of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on April 23, 1920, a new era began in the life of the Turkish nation. It was established that no power was above the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, which consisted of representatives of the people.
After the successful conclusion of the War of Independence, the existence of the new Turkish state was certified with the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne on July 24, 1923. Two months after the second session 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 head of the new state.
Until that day, the presidency had been carried out by Mustafa Kemal Pasha as the President of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. On the other hand, some foreign countries also wanted a clearer definition of the new state regime in Turkey for the approval of the Treaty of Lausanne. 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 required an urgent solution to this problem.
"TOMORROW WE WILL PROCLAIM THE REPUBLIC"
Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, upon the failure to establish a government by the evening of October 28, 1923, had a table prepared for his friends at the Çankaya Mansion by Latife Hanım.
At the dinner attended by İsmet Pasha, Ali Fuat Pasha, Halit Pasha, and Kemalettin Sami Bey, Atatürk recounted the events in his speech in the Nutuk:
"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 they had come to Ankara while Ali Fuat Pasha was departing from 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 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 Fuat, the Deputy of Rize, and Ruşen Eşref Bey, the Deputy of Afyonkarahisar, who had come to see me. I also kept them for dinner.
During the meal, I said, 'Tomorrow we will proclaim the Republic.' The friends present immediately agreed with my thought. We stopped eating. From that moment on, I determined a short program on how to proceed and assigned tasks to my friends. You will see the implementation of the program I set and the instructions I gave.
Gentlemen, you see that I did not feel the 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 fact and naturally. However, some individuals who were not in Ankara at that time considered the proclamation of the Republic as a reason to resent us and separate from us, even though they had no authority, and without being informed or having their opinions and consent taken."
"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. The proposal, which included the provision "The form of government of the Turkish state is the Republic," was accepted by the unanimous vote of all 158 members present at the session at 20:30 after discussions in the Grand National Assembly. The proclamation of the Republic was met with cheers of "Long live the Republic" and applause.
Thus, the form of government 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 the administration of the state in the most distinct manner.
Subsequently, the presidential election was held. In the secret ballot, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who received the votes of all 158 deputies, was elected as the first president of the new Turkish state by the Grand National Assembly. Upon this, Atatürk, 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 application, the parliamentary regime replaced the Assembly Government System.
BEGUN TO BE CELEBRATED AS "NATIONAL HOLIDAY"
While İsmet İnönü was tasked with forming the first government, Fethi Okyar was elected as the President of the Grand National Assembly. 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.
In line with the decision, the events on October 29, 1924, marked the beginning of the celebrations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposed making October 29 a holiday with a bill on February 2, 1925. The proposal was examined by the Constitutional Commission of the Assembly and was decided on April 18.
The acceptance of the proposal in the Grand National Assembly on April 19 and the new Turkish state's turning towards modernization and democracy under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk led to October 29 being celebrated as a "national holiday" since 1925.