MHP

The lineage of political parties from the People's Party to the Republic Peasant People's Party (CKMP) constitutes the "pre-history" of the Nationalist Movement Party. The People's Party was established in 1948 by a group of nationalist-conservative political elites led by Marshal Fevzi Çakmak and Osman Bölükbaşı. After officially closing down the People's Party in 1954, its former founders established the Republican People's Party in the same year, led by Osman Bölükbaşı. After the Türkiye Peasants Party joined in 1958, the party continued its political life under the name Republican Peasant People's Party. CKMP became the third party in the 1961 general elections, receiving 14% of the votes after CHP and AP. In 1962, CKMP split in two, and Osman Bölükbaşı left the party to establish the People's Party for the second time. He was unable to achieve the same success in the 1965 general elections, but managed to receive 2.2% of the vote. Alparslan Türkeş returned from exile in India in 1963 and entered politics. With the purpose of joining politics, he and his colleagues, including Dündar Taşer, joined the CKMP at the party congress held on February 22-23, 1964, and he was elected as the party's leader at the CKMP Grand Congress held in 1965. The new doctrine, called the "Nine Lights," was presented in detail to the party organization and established the framework for the party's program at the CKMP Congress on November 24-25, 1967. At the Extraordinary Grand Congress held on February 8-9, 1969, the "Nationalist Movement Party" was accepted as the new name with great support from the delegates. The party's emblem was decided as "Three Crescent Moon," and the emblem of "Wolf within the Crescent Moon" was adopted for the MHP Youth Branch in the same meeting. MHP participated in the 1969 general elections with a new name, new emblem, and new ideology under the leadership of Alparslan Türkeş and received 3% of the votes, and he was elected as a member of parliament for the first time. MHP increased its vote share to 3.4% and gained three seats in the parliament in the general elections held on October 14, 1973. In the 1977 general elections, MHP received 6.4% of the votes and won 16 seats, becoming the fourth-largest party in the country. MHP participated in the coalition government formed by S. Demirel on July 21, 1977, with five ministries. The democratic process was interrupted by the military coup on September 12, 1980, and all political organizations were prevented from operating for a long time. The Nationalist Movement Party started its reorganization process after overcoming the effects of the September 12, 1980 intervention with the establishment of the Conservative Party on July 7, 1983. However, due to the obstacles of the National Security Council, the Conservative Party was unable to participate in the elections held on November 6, 1983. The First Congress of the Conservative Party was held on November 30, 1985, and the party's name was changed to the "National Labor Party." The party emblem was also changed to a red star with a white crescent in the center. An alliance was formed with RP and IDP in the general elections held on October 20, 1991, and this alliance received 16.9% of the vote. Shortly after the election, the alliance dissolved and 18 members of parliament joined MÇP with Alparslan Türkeş on December 29, 1991, at the MÇP 3rd Ordinary Congress, where Alparslan Türkeş became the Chairman. At the MÇP 4th Extraordinary Congress held on January 24, 1993, it was decided to change the name of MÇP to MHP and to use the Three Crescent emblem. In the general elections held on December 20, 1995, MHP received 8.2% of the vote and could not pass the 10% election threshold to get parliamentary representation. After the death of Alparslan Türkeş on April 4, 1997, an Extraordinary Congress was held on May 18, 1997, but no result was reached, so a second Extraordinary Congress was held on July 6, 1997. Devlet Bahçeli became the second Chairman of MHP after Alparslan Türkeş with the support of a large majority of delegates at this congress. The transition process was completed with the ordinary congress held on November 13, 1997, and Devlet Bahçeli was re-elected as the Chairman of MHP. MHP achieved its greatest success in history by receiving 18% of the vote in the parliamentary elections held on April 18, 1999. Devlet Bahçeli was re-elected as the Chairman of MHP in the MHP Ordinary Grand Congresses held on November 5, 2000, October 12, 2003, November 19, 2006, November 8, 2009, November 4, 2012, March 21, 2015, March 18, 2018, and March 18, 2021.