1980 Turkish coup d'etat

After Demirel was ousted as Prime Minister, there was a succession of short-lived governments until 1975 when Demirel and the Justice Party returned to power but he was forced to create a coalition with other parties, including the far-right Nationalist Movement Party, whose paramilitary wing was the Grey Wolves. However, the CHP, led by Bulent Ecevit, won the 1977 general elections.

 

Nationalist Movement Party logo

Bulent Ecevit

Suleyman Demirel

He, like Demirel, had to form a coalition government too because he lacked a clear majority in the parliament. The coalition did not last for long, and, by 1979, Demirel was once again Prime Minister. I know right, this guy doesn't seem to give up so easily😂😂😂.  But, there wasn't only this political instability that ravaged Turkey. In the late 1970's, the political violence between the far-right, represented by the Grey Wolves, and the far-left, represented by the Communist Party of Turkey, was described as a ''low-level war''. Moreover, being a part of the coalition government led by Demirel in 1975, the Nationalist Movement Party infiltrated state security services. As a result, with state support, 

the ultranationalists started a purge against the leftists. It is estimated that 5000 people were killed by the death squads.

With this state of anarchy plaguing the country, it was the time for our heroes, the army, to bring back law and order. On 12 September 1980, the National Security Council, headed by General Kenan Evren declared coup d'etat on the national channel. Martial law was declared, Parliament was abolished, Constitution was suspended and all political parties and trade unions banned. Kenan Evren assumed the role of President of Turkey.

  

Kenan Evren, President of Turkey (1980-1989)

The military junta ruled Turkey for the next 3 years. During this period, a new Constitution was enacted in 1982. Meanwhile, between 250000 and 650000 people, both right-wingers and left-wingers, were detained for their activity during political violence. 14000 were stripped of their citizenship and 50 were executed. Eventually, new elections were held again in 1983 and Turkey resumed its transition process to democracy.