In the light of the threatened closure of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party (DTP), it is enlightening to look back at Turkey's political history.
Before the Constitutional Court was formed in 1963, parties were closed by criminal or civil courts of first instance.
Two parties closed pre-1963
When Turkey entered the multi-party phase after 1950, the Nation Party (Millet Partisi), which was then formed, was clsoed by the Ankara Criminal Court of First Instance in 1954. Another party, the Democrat Party (DP), was closed by the Ankara Civil Court of First Instance after the government was overturned by the army on 27 May 1960.
1963-1980: Six parties closed
The Constitutional Court closed six parties until the military coup of 12 September 1980:
After 1980: Eighteen parties closed
After the military coup of 1980, there was a ban on forming political parties until 1983. From that period until now, the Constitutional Court has closed eighteen parties:
And those that were not closed down...
There were attempts to close another sixteen parties in the period form 1983 until 2004. In the case of seven of them, closure demands were made because the parties had not entered general elections twice. However, the Constitutional Court rejected all the demands. (TK/AG)

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