SODEP
Encyclopedia
SODEP is the abbreviation of Social Democracy Party of Turkey
which was one of the two main parties of Turkey in early 1980s but later on merged with another party.
or ) regardless of their political views, on the 16th of October 1981. For approximately one and half year, there were no political parties. Finally, MGK decided to allow the formation of new parties with severe restrictions. According to instructions, the new parties were not allowed to use the names of the former parties and senior politicians were not allowed to be the charter member of the new parties. Furthermore, MGK had the power of rejecting the founders. (This power was called veto
power by the newspapers.) This gave MGK a privilege to limit the number of parties that would attend the coming parliamentary elections.
which is usually credited as the founder of Turkish republic in 1923. But there were many parties on the onset of formation and it would be very difficult to reach to voters without pronouncing the names of the former parties and politicians. So, the founders asked Professor Erdal İnönü
to be the chairman of the party. Erdal İnönü was a world famous physics professor but he had never been in politics. Nevertheless, he was the son of late İsmet İnönü
, the second president of Turkey and his surname was enough to create a sensation. However, İnönü was reluctant and it was difficult to persuade him. Finally, on the 26th of May 1983 he founded SODEP . Some of the other charter members were Türkan Akyol, Oktay Ekşi, Cahit Külebi, Cahit Talas.
. In this elections, most of ex CHP votes were canalized to People's Party
. HP, with 30.5 % of all votes, became the main opposition party. (ANAP
being the first party)
with the abbreviation SHP which resembled that of CHP and a party flag with 6 arrows which resembled that of CHP. (The abbreviation SHP should not be confused with the same abbreviation used by another party after 2002)
, statism
, populism
, reformism
, nationalism
and republicanism
(see Kemalism). But after 1960, CHP had also been identified as a social democratic party. SODEP being a party in the same course, was also a social democratic party with a strong emphasis on laicite.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
which was one of the two main parties of Turkey in early 1980s but later on merged with another party.
Background
After the coup of 1980, all political parties were closed by the military rule (so called National Security CouncilNational Security Council (Turkey)
The National Security Council comprises the Chief of Staff, select members of the Council of Ministers, and the President of the Republic...
or ) regardless of their political views, on the 16th of October 1981. For approximately one and half year, there were no political parties. Finally, MGK decided to allow the formation of new parties with severe restrictions. According to instructions, the new parties were not allowed to use the names of the former parties and senior politicians were not allowed to be the charter member of the new parties. Furthermore, MGK had the power of rejecting the founders. (This power was called veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
power by the newspapers.) This gave MGK a privilege to limit the number of parties that would attend the coming parliamentary elections.
Formation of SODEP
SODEP was planned by the followers of ex Republican People's PartyRepublican People's Party (Turkey)
The Republican People's Party is a centre-left Kemalist political party in Turkey. It is the oldest political party of Turkey and is currently Main Opposition in the Grand National Assembly. The Republican People's Party describes itself as "a modern social-democratic party, which is faithful to...
which is usually credited as the founder of Turkish republic in 1923. But there were many parties on the onset of formation and it would be very difficult to reach to voters without pronouncing the names of the former parties and politicians. So, the founders asked Professor Erdal İnönü
Erdal Inönü
Erdal İnönü was a Turkish physicist and politician. He was the son of Turkey's second president İsmet İnönü...
to be the chairman of the party. Erdal İnönü was a world famous physics professor but he had never been in politics. Nevertheless, he was the son of late İsmet İnönü
Ismet Inönü
Mustafa İsmet İnönü was a Turkish Army General, Prime Minister and the second President of Turkey. In 1938, the Republican People's Party gave him the title of "Milli Şef" .-Family and early life:...
, the second president of Turkey and his surname was enough to create a sensation. However, İnönü was reluctant and it was difficult to persuade him. Finally, on the 26th of May 1983 he founded SODEP . Some of the other charter members were Türkan Akyol, Oktay Ekşi, Cahit Külebi, Cahit Talas.
Disappointment in 1983 elections
21 charter members of SODEP, including İnönü, were rejected on the 23rd of June by MGK. The shock was great. But the party was not closed and the founders decided to continue with new charter members. The new chairman was Cezmi Kartay whose name had not been rejected. But due to ensuing vetos, the party was unable to qualify to enter the parliamentary elections (like most of the other parties) which is held on 6 November 1983Turkish general election, 1983
General elections were held in Turkey on 6 November 1983, the first since 1977 because the democratic rights were abandoned after the military coup of 1980. The National Security Council banned the previous political partied from participating, leading to the establishment of new parties...
. In this elections, most of ex CHP votes were canalized to People's Party
People's Party (Turkey)
- Background :After the coup of 1980, all political parties were closed by the military rule regardless of their political views, on the 16th of October 1981. In 1983, MGK decided to allow the formation of new parties with severe restrictions...
. HP, with 30.5 % of all votes, became the main opposition party. (ANAP
Motherland Party (Turkey)
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...
being the first party)
Rebirth in 1984 elections
After 1983 elections, MGK lost its former veto power and , Erdal İnönü became the chairman of the party for the second time, on the 18th of December (just 42 days after 1983 elections.) SODEP quickly qualified for the next elections, which was local elections on the 21st of March. In this election, while SODEP became the second party with 23.4 % of all votes, HP received only a modest 8.8 %. It was clear that the choise of ex CHP voters was SODEP. (Nevertheless, HP was still the main opposition party in the parliament.)Merge with HP
There was a considerable public pressure on both parties to merge with. Erdal İnönü and Aydın Güven Gürkan, the new leader of HP met and agreed on a plan to merge the parties. On the 3rd of November 1985, SODEP merged with HP. İnönü agreed to give up his seat during fusion. The new party formed by this fusion was named as Social Democrat People's PartySocial Democratic Populist Party (Turkey)
The Social Democratic Populist Party was the name of a former Turkish left social-democratic party, which resulted from the fusion, in 1985, of the Social Democracy Party of Erdal İnönü and the People's Party of Aydın Güven Gürkan, both founded in 1983 with the return to democracy after the...
with the abbreviation SHP which resembled that of CHP and a party flag with 6 arrows which resembled that of CHP. (The abbreviation SHP should not be confused with the same abbreviation used by another party after 2002)
Ideology of the party
CHP had six principles; laiciteLaïcité
French secularism, in French, laïcité is a concept denoting the absence of religious involvement in government affairs as well as absence of government involvement in religious affairs. French secularism has a long history but the current regime is based on the 1905 French law on the Separation of...
, statism
Statism
Statism is a term usually describing a political philosophy, whether of the right or the left, that emphasises the role of the state in politics or supports the use of the state to achieve economic, military or social goals...
, populism
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
, reformism
Reformism
Reformism is the belief that gradual democratic changes in a society can ultimately change a society's fundamental economic relations and political structures...
, nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
and republicanism
Republicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
(see Kemalism). But after 1960, CHP had also been identified as a social democratic party. SODEP being a party in the same course, was also a social democratic party with a strong emphasis on laicite.