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Democratic Left Party (Turkey)
Encyclopedia
The Democratic Left Party is a Turkish
political party
founded on November 14, 1985, by Rahşan Ecevit
.
, wife of Bülent Ecevit
, as he was banned from political life after the 1980 coup d'état.
In 1986 Bülent Ecevit addressed the DSP convention in Ankara
, declaring his support for the party. The address landed him in court for allegedly violating the political bans. The DSP was unable, however, to achieve a substantial showing in the 1986 by-elections even though Ecevit, despite his ban, continued to campaign at the party's rallies as a "guest speaker".
The political ban on Ecevit was lifted following a referendum in 1987. Later that year, Rahşan Ecevit handed over the rule of the party to her spouse. But the party failed to pass the 10% national threshold needed for a political party to have a seat in Parliament in the 1987 elections, prompting the Ecevits to step down from their positions in the party.
In 1988, Necdet Karababa was elected as the new party leader. However, the next year, Ecevit was reelected as party chairman in the party convention. Two years later in 1991, the DSP received 10.75% of the votes in the elections allowing the party to have 7 seats in the Parliament. This also meant the return of Ecevit to the Parliament after 11 years.
It was a minor party until it won 76 parliamentary seats in the December 1995 elections. Again in 1995, the party started to suffer from inner conflicts after years of serenity. The inner conflicts in the party ended with the dismissal of Erdal Kesebir, MP for Edirne and three other DSP members.
In 1997, the DSP became a partner of a three-way coalition government
led by Mesut Yılmaz
who at the time was the leader of the Motherland Party
. Ecevit became the deputy prime minister.
In 1998, the 55th government of Turkey was toppled by a censure
motion. Ecevit received the mandate to form a new government. He founded a minority government
of DSP in 1999 to carry the country to general elections.
, during his premiership, Ecevit and the DSP won 22,19% of the votes in the elections of April in 1999 and took 136 of the 550 seats in the Turkish Parliament becoming the leading party. Its leader Bülent Ecevit became the Prime Minister of Turkey
for the fifth time.
The coalition government accomplished many comprehensive reforms on the economy, social rights, fight against corruption, changes to 34 articles of the Constitution and EU Harmonization reforms, to name a few. Due to neglect of previous governments of long overdue reforms, an unavoidable economic crisis occurred in February 2001. However, 2 months after the crisis, the government had embarked on wide ranging economic reforms including changes to the tender law, economic social council law, unemployment insurance, the restructuring of state banks, accreditation law, law on capital markets, law on industrial zones, to name a few.
Because DSP was staunchly opposed to the invasion of Iraq by the US, a campaign to divide the DSP (with a number of MPs quitting and forming the New Turkey Party
)and force a change of government in Turkey was started. When its coalition partner MHP called for early elections in the summer of 2002, ıt was forced to enter early elections, before the results of the wide economic reforms could be felt. As a result, none of the coalition parties were able to pass the 10% national threshold in the November 3 elections in 2002.
, deputy chairman since 2001, was elected as the new Chairman of the party.
DSP entered the 2007 elections
together with the CHP, Republican People's Party
(CHP). The DSP-CHP alliance won 20.85% of the votes with the DSP getting 13 seats in Parliament.
In 2008, together with many other politicians joining the DSP before the local elections of 2009, Mustafa Sarıgül
, the Mayor of the Istanbul
district of Sisli
officially joined the party.
DSP got only % 2.75 of votes in the local elections of 2009 . Zeki Sezer resigned and Masum Türker succeeded him. After Türker's succession, both Mustafa Sarıgül, the deputy of Şişli, and Rahşan Ecevit
, the widow of Bülent Ecevit
, resigned from the party and tried to create their own political movements.
The party constantly lost memberships especially after Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu
became the leader of the Republican People's Party
and restored hope among social democrats.
Rahşan Ecevit and Bülent Ecevit are honorary presidents of DSP.
, democratic socialism
, secularism
and patriotism
. With this term, the party established a link between universal values of the left and national-cultural heritage which makes the ideology “domestic”. In other words, contemporary social democracy is made compatible with the conditions of Turkey. With Democratic Left, Ecevit made up a new synthesis by articulating new dimensions such as democracy and socialism to the national independence movement or Kemalism. The symbol of the, white dove (Ak Güvercin) was selected to symbolize the pacifism
and social accordance.
DSP approves of Turkish adhesion to the European Union
, although it criticized the content of the Customs Union
. During the premiership of Ecevit in 1999, Turkey became a candidate for the EU.
DSP is against the idea of a united Cyprus state.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
political party
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...
founded on November 14, 1985, by Rahşan Ecevit
Rahsan Ecevit
Rahşan Ecevit is the spouse of the late Turkish politician and former prime minister Bülent Ecevit.She was born in Bursa, Turkey to a family from Şebinkarahisar, a town in the northeastern Giresun Province. Her father was Namık Zeki Aral, and her mother Zahide Aral. Their family came from...
.
1985-1999
The DSP, a social democratic oriented party, was registered on November 14, 1985 by Rahşan EcevitRahsan Ecevit
Rahşan Ecevit is the spouse of the late Turkish politician and former prime minister Bülent Ecevit.She was born in Bursa, Turkey to a family from Şebinkarahisar, a town in the northeastern Giresun Province. Her father was Namık Zeki Aral, and her mother Zahide Aral. Their family came from...
, wife of Bülent Ecevit
Bülent Ecevit
Mustafa Bülent Ecevit was a Turkish politician, poet, writer and journalist, who was the leader of Republican People's Party , later of the Democratic Left Party and four-time Prime Minister of Turkey.- Personal life :...
, as he was banned from political life after the 1980 coup d'état.
In 1986 Bülent Ecevit addressed the DSP convention in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
, declaring his support for the party. The address landed him in court for allegedly violating the political bans. The DSP was unable, however, to achieve a substantial showing in the 1986 by-elections even though Ecevit, despite his ban, continued to campaign at the party's rallies as a "guest speaker".
The political ban on Ecevit was lifted following a referendum in 1987. Later that year, Rahşan Ecevit handed over the rule of the party to her spouse. But the party failed to pass the 10% national threshold needed for a political party to have a seat in Parliament in the 1987 elections, prompting the Ecevits to step down from their positions in the party.
In 1988, Necdet Karababa was elected as the new party leader. However, the next year, Ecevit was reelected as party chairman in the party convention. Two years later in 1991, the DSP received 10.75% of the votes in the elections allowing the party to have 7 seats in the Parliament. This also meant the return of Ecevit to the Parliament after 11 years.
It was a minor party until it won 76 parliamentary seats in the December 1995 elections. Again in 1995, the party started to suffer from inner conflicts after years of serenity. The inner conflicts in the party ended with the dismissal of Erdal Kesebir, MP for Edirne and three other DSP members.
In 1997, the DSP became a partner of a three-way coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
led by 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...
who at the time was the leader of the Motherland Party
Motherland Party
Motherland Party is the name of several parties:-See also:*Fatherland Party *List of generic names of political parties....
. Ecevit became the deputy prime minister.
In 1998, the 55th government of Turkey was toppled by a censure
Censure
A censure is an expression of strong disapproval or harsh criticism. Among the forms that it can take are a stern rebuke by a legislature, a spiritual penalty imposed by a church, and a negative judgment pronounced on a theological proposition.-Politics:...
motion. Ecevit received the mandate to form a new government. He founded a minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
of DSP in 1999 to carry the country to general elections.
1999-2002
Boosted by the capture of the leader of the terrorist organization PKK, Abdullah ÖcalanAbdullah Öcalan
Abdullah Öcalan , Kurdish founder of the terrorist organization called Kurdistan Workers' Party in 1978.Öcalan was captured in Nairobi and extradited to the Turkish security force, and sentenced to death under Article 125 of the Turkish Penal Code, which concerns the formation of armed gangs...
, during his premiership, Ecevit and the DSP won 22,19% of the votes in the elections of April in 1999 and took 136 of the 550 seats in the Turkish Parliament becoming the leading party. Its leader Bülent Ecevit became the Prime Minister of Turkey
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....
for the fifth time.
The coalition government accomplished many comprehensive reforms on the economy, social rights, fight against corruption, changes to 34 articles of the Constitution and EU Harmonization reforms, to name a few. Due to neglect of previous governments of long overdue reforms, an unavoidable economic crisis occurred in February 2001. However, 2 months after the crisis, the government had embarked on wide ranging economic reforms including changes to the tender law, economic social council law, unemployment insurance, the restructuring of state banks, accreditation law, law on capital markets, law on industrial zones, to name a few.
Because DSP was staunchly opposed to the invasion of Iraq by the US, a campaign to divide the DSP (with a number of MPs quitting and forming the New Turkey Party
New Turkey Party
New Turkey Party was a political party in Turkey. It was founded in 2002 following a leadership crisis in the Democratic Left Party that was the major partner in a three party coalition government....
)and force a change of government in Turkey was started. When its coalition partner MHP called for early elections in the summer of 2002, ıt was forced to enter early elections, before the results of the wide economic reforms could be felt. As a result, none of the coalition parties were able to pass the 10% national threshold in the November 3 elections in 2002.
After 2002
Before the 6th Party Congress of July 25, 2004, Bülent Ecevit announced that he would step down as party leader and leave active politics. During the congress, Zeki SezerZeki Sezer
Mehmet Zeki Sezer is a Turkish politician and former chairman of the Democratic Left Party , he was elected in the 6th ordinary party congress in 2004 after the resignation of Bülent Ecevit....
, deputy chairman since 2001, was elected as the new Chairman of the party.
DSP entered the 2007 elections
Turkish general election, 2007
Turkey's 16th general election was held on July 22, 2007 and resulted in a resounding victory for the incumbent Justice and Development Party...
together with the CHP, Republican People's Party
Republican People's Party
Republican People's Party may be:*Republican People's Party *Republican People's Party *Republican Popular Party See also:* Russian Republican People's Party...
(CHP). The DSP-CHP alliance won 20.85% of the votes with the DSP getting 13 seats in Parliament.
In 2008, together with many other politicians joining the DSP before the local elections of 2009, Mustafa Sarıgül
Mustafa Sarigül
Mustafa Sarıgül , is the mayor of the Şişli district in Istanbul, where he was elected as the candidate of Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi for the past two terms....
, the Mayor of the Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
district of Sisli
Sisli
Şişli is one of 39 districts of Istanbul, Turkey. Located on the European side of the city, it is bordered by Beşiktaş to the east, Sarıyer to the north, Eyüp and Kağıthane to the west, and Beyoğlu to the south...
officially joined the party.
DSP got only % 2.75 of votes in the local elections of 2009 . Zeki Sezer resigned and Masum Türker succeeded him. After Türker's succession, both Mustafa Sarıgül, the deputy of Şişli, and Rahşan Ecevit
Rahsan Ecevit
Rahşan Ecevit is the spouse of the late Turkish politician and former prime minister Bülent Ecevit.She was born in Bursa, Turkey to a family from Şebinkarahisar, a town in the northeastern Giresun Province. Her father was Namık Zeki Aral, and her mother Zahide Aral. Their family came from...
, the widow of Bülent Ecevit
Bülent Ecevit
Mustafa Bülent Ecevit was a Turkish politician, poet, writer and journalist, who was the leader of Republican People's Party , later of the Democratic Left Party and four-time Prime Minister of Turkey.- Personal life :...
, resigned from the party and tried to create their own political movements.
The party constantly lost memberships especially after Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu
Kemal Kiliçdaroglu
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is a Turkish social democrat politician. He is currently leader of the Republican People's Party and Leader of the Main Opposition in Turkey. He has been the Member of Parliament for İstanbul since 2002....
became the leader of the Republican People's Party
Republican People's Party
Republican People's Party may be:*Republican People's Party *Republican People's Party *Republican Popular Party See also:* Russian Republican People's Party...
and restored hope among social democrats.
Leaders
- Rahşan EcevitRahsan EcevitRahşan Ecevit is the spouse of the late Turkish politician and former prime minister Bülent Ecevit.She was born in Bursa, Turkey to a family from Şebinkarahisar, a town in the northeastern Giresun Province. Her father was Namık Zeki Aral, and her mother Zahide Aral. Their family came from...
(1985–1987) - Bülent EcevitBülent EcevitMustafa Bülent Ecevit was a Turkish politician, poet, writer and journalist, who was the leader of Republican People's Party , later of the Democratic Left Party and four-time Prime Minister of Turkey.- Personal life :...
(1987–1988) - Necdet KarababaNecdet KarababaNecdet Karababa is a Turkish politician and former leader of the Democratic Left Party.He was elected leader of the Democratic Left Party at its general assembly held on March 7, 1988 following the resignation and leaving the politics of Bülent Ecevit some time before. He resigned from this post on...
(1988–1989) - Bülent EcevitBülent EcevitMustafa Bülent Ecevit was a Turkish politician, poet, writer and journalist, who was the leader of Republican People's Party , later of the Democratic Left Party and four-time Prime Minister of Turkey.- Personal life :...
(1989–2004) - Zeki SezerZeki SezerMehmet Zeki Sezer is a Turkish politician and former chairman of the Democratic Left Party , he was elected in the 6th ordinary party congress in 2004 after the resignation of Bülent Ecevit....
(2004–2009) - Masum TürkerMasum TürkerMasum Türker is a Turkish politician and the current leader of the Democratic Left Party. He was a minister of state in the 57th cabinet of Turkey.Türker graduated from Istanbul University.-References:...
(2009- )
Rahşan Ecevit and Bülent Ecevit are honorary presidents of DSP.
Notable members
Notable members and former members include:- Bülent EcevitBülent EcevitMustafa Bülent Ecevit was a Turkish politician, poet, writer and journalist, who was the leader of Republican People's Party , later of the Democratic Left Party and four-time Prime Minister of Turkey.- Personal life :...
, Creator - Necdet KarababaNecdet KarababaNecdet Karababa is a Turkish politician and former leader of the Democratic Left Party.He was elected leader of the Democratic Left Party at its general assembly held on March 7, 1988 following the resignation and leaving the politics of Bülent Ecevit some time before. He resigned from this post on...
, Former Party Leader - Rahşan EcevitRahsan EcevitRahşan Ecevit is the spouse of the late Turkish politician and former prime minister Bülent Ecevit.She was born in Bursa, Turkey to a family from Şebinkarahisar, a town in the northeastern Giresun Province. Her father was Namık Zeki Aral, and her mother Zahide Aral. Their family came from...
, Founder - Zeki SezerZeki SezerMehmet Zeki Sezer is a Turkish politician and former chairman of the Democratic Left Party , he was elected in the 6th ordinary party congress in 2004 after the resignation of Bülent Ecevit....
, Former Party Leader - Masum TürkerMasum TürkerMasum Türker is a Turkish politician and the current leader of the Democratic Left Party. He was a minister of state in the 57th cabinet of Turkey.Türker graduated from Istanbul University.-References:...
, Current Party Leader - Yılmaz BüyükerşenYilmaz BüyükersenYılmaz Büyükerşen is a Turkish politician and educator and current mayor of Eskişehir.-Biography:Büyükerşen graduated from Eskişehir Academy of Economics and Commercial Sciences in 1962. During his academy years, he worked as a reporter, columnist, caricaturist and editor in various newspapers...
, Mayor of the City of EskişehirEskisehirEskişehir is a city in northwestern Turkey and the capital of the Eskişehir Province. According to the 2009 census, the population of the city is 631,905. The city is located on the banks of the Porsuk River, 792 m above sea level, where it overlooks the fertile Phrygian Valley. In the nearby... - Mustafa SarıgülMustafa SarigülMustafa Sarıgül , is the mayor of the Şişli district in Istanbul, where he was elected as the candidate of Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi for the past two terms....
, Mayor of the IstanbulIstanbulIstanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
district of ŞişliSisliŞişli is one of 39 districts of Istanbul, Turkey. Located on the European side of the city, it is bordered by Beşiktaş to the east, Sarıyer to the north, Eyüp and Kağıthane to the west, and Beyoğlu to the south... - Seyit Torun, Mayor of the city of OrduOrduOrdu 'army') is a port city on the Black Sea coast of Turkey, and the capital of Ordu Province. Estimated population c. 2010: 141,341.-Etymology:...
- Saffet Başaran, interim Party Leader
Political view
The term Demokratik Sol (Democratic Left) was created by Bülent Ecevit in his late CHP period, as a mix of social democracySocial democracy
Social democracy is a political ideology of the center-left on the political spectrum. Social democracy is officially a form of evolutionary reformist socialism. It supports class collaboration as the course to achieve socialism...
, democratic socialism
Democratic socialism
Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation...
, secularism
Secularism
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
and patriotism
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
. With this term, the party established a link between universal values of the left and national-cultural heritage which makes the ideology “domestic”. In other words, contemporary social democracy is made compatible with the conditions of Turkey. With Democratic Left, Ecevit made up a new synthesis by articulating new dimensions such as democracy and socialism to the national independence movement or Kemalism. The symbol of the, white dove (Ak Güvercin) was selected to symbolize the pacifism
Pacifism
Pacifism is the opposition to war and violence. The term "pacifism" was coined by the French peace campaignerÉmile Arnaud and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress inGlasgow in 1901.- Definition :...
and social accordance.
DSP approves of Turkish adhesion to 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...
, although it criticized the content of the Customs Union
Customs union
A customs union is a type of trade bloc which is composed of a free trade area with a common external tariff. The participant countries set up common external trade policy, but in some cases they use different import quotas...
. During the premiership of Ecevit in 1999, Turkey became a candidate for the EU.
DSP is against the idea of a united Cyprus state.
General Elections
- 1986 Elections: 8.5%
- 1987 Elections: 8.53%
- 1991 Elections: 10.8%, 7 seats
- 1995 Elections: 14.64%, 76 seats
- 1999 Elections: 22.19%, 136 seats
- 2002 Elections: 1.22%
- 2007 Elections: 20.85%*, 13 seats. *DSP formed an alliance with CHPCHP-Healthcare:* Oporto Hospital Centre* Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh* Community Health Partnerships* Certified Health Physicist-Politics:* Christian Heritage Party * Christian Historical Party...
in 2007 and the alliance got 20.85% of total vote. - 2011 Elections: 0.25%
Local Elections
- 1989 Elections: 9.09%, 37 municipalities
- 1994 Elections: 8.93%, 23 municipalities
- 1999 Elections: 19.28%, 189 municipalities
- 2004 Elections: 2.18%, 32 municipalities
- 2009 Elections: 2.75%, 12 municipalities