Motherland Party (Turkey)
Encyclopedia
The Motherland Party, was a political party
in Turkey
. It was founded in 1983 by Turgut Özal
. It was merged to Democratic Party in October 2009. The ANAP was considered a centre-right
nationalist party which supported restrictions on the role that government can play in the economy, which favoured private capital and enterprise, and which allowed for some public expressions of religion.
The ANAP maintained a majority in the government of Turkey from 1983 until 1991. Turgut Özal held the position of Prime Minister
from 1983 to 1989, then President
from 1989 to 1993. During this time, the ANAP leaders transformed the Turkish economy by beginning free-market reforms, particularly cutting down the public area and moving towards privately owned business. In 1987, the ANAP-led government filed for admission into the European Economic Community
, the forerunner of the European Union
. However, this attempt to enter the EEC was ended when the ANAP criticized the customs union of the EEC and decided the admission terms prescribed by the EEC to be not in the best interest of Turkey or its people.
After its longest run, the ANAP has had few opportunities to return to leadership. In 1995, The Motherland party formed a brief coalition with the True Path Party
(DYP), another centre-right oriented party, that allowed their influence to return for a short period of time. Then, from July 1997 to November 1998, the ANAP was returned to the head of government with the leader Mesut Yılmaz
. However, The ANAP suffered one of the largest defeats during the April 1999 elections and became the fourth largest political party in Turkey with only 14% of the votes. Following these elections, ANAP received only 86 of 365 seats in the Parliament. During the 2002 elections, they got only 5.12% of the votes and no seats in Parliament.
On 5 May 2007, it was announced that ANAP and True Path Party
would merge to the Democratic Party (DP). However, this failed and ANAP announced that it would not run for the upcoming elections.
From 2008 to 2009, its president was Salih Uzun
. On 31 October 2009, it was merged to Democratic Party.
(During periods between the resignation or incapacitation of a leader and the election of a new one, the central committee of the party collectively acted as leader.)
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. It was founded in 1983 by Turgut Özal
Turgut Özal
Halil Turgut Özal was Prime Minister of Turkey and President of Turkey . As Prime Minister, he transformed the economy of Turkey by paving the way for the privatization of many state enterprises.-Early life and career:...
. It was merged to Democratic Party in October 2009. The ANAP was considered a centre-right
Centre-right
The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
nationalist party which supported restrictions on the role that government can play in the economy, which favoured private capital and enterprise, and which allowed for some public expressions of religion.
The ANAP maintained a majority in the government of Turkey from 1983 until 1991. Turgut Özal held the position of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Turkey
The Prime Minister of the Turkey is the head of government in Turkish politics. The prime minister is the leader of a political coalition in the Turkish parliament and the leader of the cabinet....
from 1983 to 1989, then President
President of Turkey
The President of Turkey is the head of state of the Republic of Turkey. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office but has some important functions...
from 1989 to 1993. During this time, the ANAP leaders transformed the Turkish economy by beginning free-market reforms, particularly cutting down the public area and moving towards privately owned business. In 1987, the ANAP-led government filed for admission into the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
, the forerunner of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. However, this attempt to enter the EEC was ended when the ANAP criticized the customs union of the EEC and decided the admission terms prescribed by the EEC to be not in the best interest of Turkey or its people.
After its longest run, the ANAP has had few opportunities to return to leadership. In 1995, The Motherland party formed a brief coalition with the True Path Party
True Path Party
The Democratic Party , abbreviated to DP, is a centre-right, conservative Turkish political party, established by Suleyman Demirel in 1983 as the Right Path Party...
(DYP), another centre-right oriented party, that allowed their influence to return for a short period of time. Then, from July 1997 to November 1998, the ANAP was returned to the head of government with the leader Mesut Yılmaz
Mesut Yilmaz
Ahmet Mesut Yılmaz is the former leader of the Motherland Party and was the Turkish prime minister in the 1990s.Mesut Yılmaz was a rising star in the Motherland Party of Turgut Özal, representing the Black Sea province of Rize in the parliament and serving as tourism minister in Ozal's cabinet...
. However, The ANAP suffered one of the largest defeats during the April 1999 elections and became the fourth largest political party in Turkey with only 14% of the votes. Following these elections, ANAP received only 86 of 365 seats in the Parliament. During the 2002 elections, they got only 5.12% of the votes and no seats in Parliament.
On 5 May 2007, it was announced that ANAP and True Path Party
True Path Party
The Democratic Party , abbreviated to DP, is a centre-right, conservative Turkish political party, established by Suleyman Demirel in 1983 as the Right Path Party...
would merge to the Democratic Party (DP). However, this failed and ANAP announced that it would not run for the upcoming elections.
From 2008 to 2009, its president was Salih Uzun
Salih Uzun
Mehmet Salih Uzun is a Turkish politician and former and final leader of the Motherland Party .-Biography:Uzun was born in the northwestern Anatolian town of Gölcük in Kocaeli Province...
. On 31 October 2009, it was merged to Democratic Party.
Leaders
The chief executive member of the party is called the Genel Başkan. He/She is elected by party delegates in biennial party congresses. The party had seven leaders since its foundation in 1983 until 2009:- Turgut ÖzalTurgut ÖzalHalil Turgut Özal was Prime Minister of Turkey and President of Turkey . As Prime Minister, he transformed the economy of Turkey by paving the way for the privatization of many state enterprises.-Early life and career:...
(May 20, 1983 – October 31, 1989) - Yıldırım AkbulutYildirim AkbulutYıldırım Akbulut is a Turkish politician, who was a leader of the Anavatan Partisi , a former Prime Minister of Turkey and twice the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.-Biography:...
(November 16, 1989 – June 15, 1991) - Mesut YılmazMesut YilmazAhmet Mesut Yılmaz is the former leader of the Motherland Party and was the Turkish prime minister in the 1990s.Mesut Yılmaz was a rising star in the Motherland Party of Turgut Özal, representing the Black Sea province of Rize in the parliament and serving as tourism minister in Ozal's cabinet...
(June 15, 1991 – November 4, 2002) - Ali Talip ÖzdemirAli Talip ÖzdemirAli Talip Özdemir is a Turkish politician and the former leader of the Motherland Party .He was born in the Central Anatolian town of Ereğli in Konya Province into a family with 12 children. His father Hüsnü Özdemir was a worker in the state-owned Sümerbank factory...
(November 18, 2002 – October 3, 2003) - Nesrin NasNesrin NasNesrin Nas is a Turkish academic in economics, politician and the former leader of the Motherland Party .She was born in the Central Anatolian town of Bünyan in Kayseri Province. Her father was Mehmet Secaattin and her mother Şerife...
(October 15, 2003 – March 21, 2005) - Erkan MumcuErkan MumcuErkan Mumcu is a Turkish politician and the sixth leader of the Motherland Party .-Biography:...
(April 2, 2005 – October 26, 2008) - Salih UzunSalih UzunMehmet Salih Uzun is a Turkish politician and former and final leader of the Motherland Party .-Biography:Uzun was born in the northwestern Anatolian town of Gölcük in Kocaeli Province...
(October 26, 2008 – October 31, 2009)
(During periods between the resignation or incapacitation of a leader and the election of a new one, the central committee of the party collectively acted as leader.)