1971 Turkish military memorandum

After 1960 coup, the army was in control and ruled as a military junta for a year. The Democrat Party was disbanded, a new constitution was enacted and Cemal Gursel, a Turkish general, became the new President of Turkey. 

Cemal Gursel, President of Turkey (1960-1966)

The 1961 elections were won by the CHP led by the same Ismet Inonu who would, once again, become the Prime Minister. However, without having a majority, he was forced to form a coalition government. Unfortunately, the 1960's were hard times for Turkey. The economy was in shambles, while violence plagued the country. To make the situation even worse, left-wing organizations, composed of students and workers, started to clash with the Islamist and Nationalist groups, the most notorious one being the Grey Wolves, a far-right Islamonationalist paramilitary group. 

Grey Wolves logo

Meanwhile, a new centre-right party emerged. The Justice Party, founded in 1961 as a successor of the defunct Democrat Party, was the new political rival of the CHP. Led by Suleyman Demirel, they won the majority in 1965 elections. As a result, Demirel became the Prime Minister. 

Suleyman Demiral, the one on the left, and US President Lyndon Johnson

However, Demirel cabinet did not prove very effective, and, by 1970, Turkey was almost in a complete state of chaos. And like any good story in which a hero saves the day, our hero this time was once again the army😂😂😅😅. On 12 March 1971, Memduh Tagmac, the Chief of the General Staff, handed the Prime Minister a memorandum, which was in fact an ultimatum. The demands were quite simple: the formation of a strong and credible government, otherwise the army will do its ''duty'' and seize the power once again. Demirel resigned on 16 March and a new cabinet was formed. There was no need for a coup, at least for now.