| Mustafa
Kemal was only a rebel army officer for the authorities just
before the War of Independence, although he had risen to prominence
for his success and bravery in Gallipoli and other fronts during
WW1. The war marks the end of "the sick man of Europe",
the ruins of the mighty Ottoman Empire that was sovereign on
three continents for centuries. |
|
Established in 1923, the Turkish Republic is the outcome of
a three years long liberation movement led by Mustafa Kemal,
later to be given the last name Ataturk by the Parliament. "Revolution",
in his own words, continued after the victory. In less than
a decade, the parliament abolished all the institutes in connection
with the past. The new perspective aligned Turkey with the West,
rather then the East with radical changes in state administration,
education and life style. Ataturk, as a great leader to his
country when the times were challenging, is deeply respected
by the people of Turkey. |
| After
Ataturk passed away in 1938, Inonu, who is refered to as the
national leader, became the second president to the republic.
He managed to keep Turkey neutral in WW2., but immense financial
losses as the result of war gave way to new political movements.
The political clash between the right and left wing parties
and groups resulted in military interventions three times, the
last one in 1980, each time returning control to the people.
With a new constitution in 1982, the Senate was abolished, and
the House of Representatives or the National Assembly became
the only institute of legislation. President's authority was
intensified but his status remained symbolic. Current political
system is based on the concept of a stronger administration
rather then coalitions with inner conflicts. EU membership as
a growing consensus among people, privatization of state enterprises,
growing loans and the regional conflicts are the priorities
that the current governments have to deal with. |
| Turkey
is a member of Nato. The country is in the process of EU membership,
and has already signed the Customs Union Treaty. New laws are
on the agenda of the parliament to eliminate legal differences,
conflicts and double standarts. |
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