Constitutional Court Closed 24 Parties in 44 Years

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.

Tolga Korkut

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:

Workers' and Farmers' Party (ICP): 1968
National Order Party (MNP): 20.05.1971
Turkish Progressive Ideal Party (TIÜP): 24.06.1971
Turkish Workers' Party (TIP): 20.07.1971
Great Anatolia Party (BAP): 19.12.1972
Turkish Labourers' Party (TEP): 08.05.1980

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:

Peace Party (Huzur Partisi): 25.10.1983
Turkish United Communist Party (TBKP): 16.07.1991
Republican People's Party (CHP): 24.09.1991
Socialist Party (SP): 10.07.1992
People's Labour Party (HEP): 14.07.1993
Freedom and Democracy Party (ÖDP): 23.11.1993
Socialist Turkey Party (STP): 30.11.1993
Green Party (Yesiller Partisi): 10.02.1994
Democracy Party (DP): 16.06.1994
Democrat Party (DP): 13.09.1994
Socialist Unity Party (SBP): 19.07.1995
Democracy and Change Party (DDP): 19.03.1996
Labour Party (EMEP): 14.02.1997
Revival Party (Dirilis Partisi): 18.02.1997
Welfare Party (Refah Partisi): 16.01.1998
Democratic Mass Party (DKP): 26.02.1999
Virtue Party (Fazilet Partisi): 22.06.2001
People's Democracy Party (HADEP): 13.03.2003

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)