English

The history of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) is a significant part of the process of transition to multi party system. The multi party system starting in 1964 has followed a very though process with the effect of internal and external occurrences. The The Democrat Party (DP) at shadow against Republican People's Party (CHP) under the monocracy of İnönü has been also affected from crisis of transition period. In this party established by the politicians who left CHP, alienations and divergences have occurred. A group among these has established the Nationalist Party in 1948. Marshall Fevzi Çakmak has been appointed as the honorary president of Nationalist Party and Osman Bölükbaşı as chairman.

The introduction of MHP to Turkish political life is closely related to history of Nationalist Party. The Nationalist Party has been reorganized under the leadership of Osman Bölükbaş on February 10th, 1954 under the title of Republican Nationalist Party (CMP) after their closure on January 27th, 1954 on the ground the party was a society based on religious principles, which conceals its intentions, with the attempts of DP rulership. On October 16th, 1958 with the involvement of Turkish Peasant Party, CMP has taken the name Republican Peasant Nationalist Party (CKMP).

After the military coup in 1960, there started a period in which your political life has tried to be reorganized. CKMP took also its place on the political stage in this new period.

On February 23rd, 1963 Alparslan Türkeş and his colleagues came back to Turkey from the exile where they have been sent after the coup. Alparslan Türkeş, has decided to join to this part following miscellaneous meetings wit his friends, during the CKMP Congress on February 22nd – 23rd, 1964. The though of putting the Turkish nationalist in power, as a political action, has played a role in the preference of Türkeş to select CKMP for politics. From the 14’s, who were together in the National Unity Committee during the military coupe in 1960 together with Alparslan Türkeş, Dündar Taşer, Mustafa Özdağ, Numan Esin, Rıfat Baykal, Mustafa Kaplan and Ahmet Er have jointed CKMP with ceremony.

The participation of Alparslan Türkeş and his colleagues to this part is one of the most important milestone in which the permanent basis of the process laying from CKMP to MHP have been established.

The very first congress of CKMP after the participation of Türkeş and his colleagues was held on August 1st, 1965. Alparslan Türkeş has been elected as General President at the congress. CKMP together with the New General President has started new attempts for determining a new program and building a new organization.

The efforts of CKMP to represent the nationalist community in terms of ideology and organization, has reached a new phase with the Extraordinary Major Congress held in Adana on 8th - 9th February, 1969. After the acceptation of the “Nationalist Movement Party” name at the congress the emblem of the party which was previously a “Balance” has been changed and adopted as “three crescents”. The youth branches have accepted emblem of “wolf inside the crescent”. The new doctrine of the party which has been completed as “9 lights” has been shaped in 1964, but however introduced in details to the party organization at the CKMP Congress in 1967 and has determined the frame of party program.

The Nationalist Movement Party which took the place in the Turkish political life with a new identity and image, has obtained 3% votes at the general elections in 1969 and the leader Alparslan Türkeş has been elected as congressman for the first time.

MHP, has increased its vote ratio to 3.4% at the general elections from October 14th, 1973 and has given 3 congressmen. After the short term coalition of CHP and National Salvation Party (MSP) and following the government crisis lasting for 213 days, MHP, on March 31st, 1975 has took its place in the Nationalist Front Government constituted under the Prime Ministry of Süleyman Demirel. Involvement of MHP in the coalition with an actionist structure and organization abilities made it an efficient political power.

MHP who gained 16 congressman with a vote ratio of 6,4% at the congressman elections hold on June 5th, 1977, has also jointed on July 22nd, 1977 to Second Nationalist Front Government constituted from AP, MSP and MHP.

The government established by Bülent Ecevit has dismissed after the failing of Second Nationalist Front Government with censure motion and Süleyman Demirel has established a minority government. MPS and MHP have also supported this government. However the long lasting instability and political dismay in the country could not be removed and 12 September coupe has occurred. The government of the state has been facing a seizure and parliament and government have been terminated and the political parties closed.

On April 29th, 1981 unrealistic allegations have been brought about MHP. The party members and the Nationalist teenagers who have been arrested in the MHP and Nationalist Organizations Law Suit have been condemned with miscellaneous punishments. The hearing has been taking for almost 4 year and leader of MHP Alparslan Türkeş who was imprisoned for 6 months has been released taking into consideration this term. The new emblem has been adopted as 9 starts representing the “9 lights” around a white crescent o a red background instead of the former party emblem depicting a plane tree rising over Turkey.

Upon the dismissal of General Chairman Ali Koç, on April 19th, 1987, at the congress resulted in election of Abdülkerim Doğru as the General President, Devlet Bahçeli has been appointed as General Secretary. The appointment and this assignment of Devlet Bahçeli became one of the factors determining the organizational structuring in the future of MHP.

Türkeş, of whose political ban has been removed with the referendum dated September 6th, 1987 has enrolled to MÇP on September 20th, 1987. Following this development the party has taken the decision of extraordinary congress and on the Second Extraordinary Congress made on October 4th, 1987, Alparslan Türkşe who obtained the votes of 210 delegates has been appointed as General President of MÇP.

The General Elections of November 26th, 1987 have been the very first exam for MÇP however the desired success has not been achieved. MÇP received only 2.91% vote at these elections.

The Second Ordinary Congress of MÇP has been held on November 27th, 1988 and Alparslan Türkeş has been reselected as General President.

MÇP has increased the vote rate throughout of Turkey at the general elections from March 26th, 1989 to 4.1%. At the general elections made on October 20th, 1991 MÇP has joined making election alliance with RP and IDP. This alliance who received 16.9% votes, has earned the right to enter into parliament.

A short time after the election, Alparslan Türkeş and his 18 colleagues who left the alliance, have established Democratic Movement Party (DHP). 19 congressmen have joined to MÇP at the Third Ordinary Congress held on December 29th, 1991. At this congress Alparslan Türkeş has been reappointed as General President.

With the abolishment of the law about the termination of politic parties on June 19th, 1982, at the general assembly of MHP held on December 27th, 1992 it has been decided that the name and emblem may be used by MÇP. Upon this development with the Extraordinary Congress held on January 24th, 1993, MHP has decided that his name and emblem with three crescents may be used again. Thus MHP has reborn and turned back to Turkish political life.

MHP has participated to local elections on March 27th, 1994 in a political atmosphere where the nationalism was a rising value and obtained 8.18% votes, namely the party reached to the highest power until that day. Even that MHP has gained 8.18% votes at the elections made in December 1995, the party wasn’t able to put any congressmen in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.

Devlet Bahçeli has been appointed as General President at the congress of the first transition period held on July 6th, 1997 after the death of General President of MHP, Alparslan Türkeş on April 4th, 1997. The General Presidency of Devlet Bahçeli has been registered at the Ordinary Major Congress of MHP held on November 23rd, 1997.

One of the most significant phases in the history of MHP, are the elections made on April 18th, 1999 with the slogan of “Leader Country Turkey”. At these elections MHP received the biggest vote ration in the history with 17,98% and issuing 129 congressmen it became the second party. DSP under the leadership of Bülent Ecevit has received 22,19% votes and obtained 139 places of congressmen. Later, the 57th government consisting of DSP, MHP and ANAP under the presidency of Bülent Ecevit has been established. MHP has been represented in the cabinet with 12 ministries.

After the partnership to the lap of MHP it held the Sixth Ordinary Major Congress on November 5th, 2000 and transmitted powerful message to public both with its organizations and messages.

When the worsening health condition of Ecevit has added to the depth divergences between the government and its partners regarding the solution of separatist terror and economical issues the consistency of the coalition has been removed and the increase of dismissals starting with Hüsamettin Özkan at DSP and the attempts of the new creators have accelerated the dissolution process of 57th Government. After the biggest economical crisis of Republic history appearing on 2011, the positive results cannot be expect even serious measures have been implements and on July 16th, 2002 the coalition partners have joined together and decided to make early election on November 3rd.

At the elections made on November 3rd, 2002, MHP has decreased under the barrage and remained out of the parliament. However MHP has recovered soon and at the local elections from 2004 has gained 4 from 65 province municipalities, 124 from 847 district municipalities and 336 from 2.281 town municipalities.

While MHP received 14,29% votes from the voters registered throughout the country at the elections held on July 22nd, 2007 it has been gained 71 places of congressmen and has reestablished a group in the parliament.

At the 2009 Turkey local elections MHP has obtained the mayoralty of 10 cities one of these being the metropolitan mayoralty with a vote ratio of 16.1% and in total 490 mayoralties.

At the congressmen elections held on June 12th, 2011 MHP has obtained 12.99% votes and issued 53 congressmen.