September 12 marked two important events in Turkey's political history: The 1980 military coup and the 2010 constitutional referendum. Both events profoundly affected Turkey's political configuration and played an important role in the country's democratic evolution.
September 12, 1980 Military Coup: In 1980, when Turkey was going through a period of political uncertainty and violence, the Turkish Armed Forces staged a military coup on September 12, 1980. As a result, political parties were shut down, the constitution was suspended and the country was placed under martial law. Thousands were arrested, human rights violations took place, and Turkey's political landscape changed radically. Following the coup, the 1982 Constitution was adopted and Turkey returned to multi-party political life, but the effects of the coup are still felt.
Balance sheet of the coup
The balance sheet of this coup is complex and controversial.
Here are the main consequences and impacts of the coup:
Political Consequences:
- All political parties in Turkey were shut down and political activities were banned.
- Parliament and the government were dissolved.
- The Constitution has been suspended.
Human Rights Violations:
- Thousands were detained, tortured and imprisoned.
- Many people disappeared or were killed.
- Press freedom was restricted and many newspapers and magazines were closed down.
- Trade unions and civil society organizations were suppressed.
Economic Impacts:
- There was economic instability and unemployment increased.
- Import and foreign exchange restrictions were imposed.
Civil Society and Trade Unions:
- Trade union activities were largely blocked.
- Activities of civil society organizations were restricted.
Constitutional Amendment:
- The 1982 Constitution was adopted, is still in force and contains many controversial articles.
Military Guardianship:
- The influence of the Turkish Armed Forces on politics increased and lasted for many years.
The balance sheet of the coup reflects a complex period for Turkey, with political, social and economic repercussions for many years to come. Many individuals and families had traumatic experiences of human rights violations during this period. However, following the coup, Turkey entered a process of democratization and returned to a multi-party political system. Therefore, the consequences and effects of the coup are still being discussed and evaluated.
30 years later, same date again! September 12, 2010 Constitutional Referendum
30 years later, on September 12, 2010, Turkey witnessed another important event: September 12, 2010 saw a referendum to amend the constitution adopted after the 1980 military coup. This referendum was seen as an important step in Turkey's democratization process. The amendments adopted in the referendum included safeguards against military interventions and aimed to strengthen fundamental human rights. They also introduced important changes to civilian control over the judiciary and the military.
These two dates are just some of the important periods in Turkey's political history. September 12 is part of a complex and sometimes turbulent process in the country's democratic development that is still being debated and evaluated.
Who said what about the referendum?
Before and after the September 12, 2010 referendum, many people, political leaders and experts expressed various opinions. Here are the statements of some important people about this referendum:
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (then Prime Minister, now President): Erdoğan called on the public to support the constitutional amendments ahead of the referendum, arguing that the changes would contribute to Turkey's democratization and end military tutelage.
CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu: Kılıçdaroğlu announced that the CHP would vote “no” in the referendum, claiming that the amendments would lead to one-man rule in Turkey and weaken democracy.
MHP President Devlet Bahceli: Bahçeli stated that the MHP would vote “yes” in the referendum and argued that the amendments would increase Turkey's stability.
Turkish Armed Forces: Chief of General Staff General İlker Başbuğ stated that the intervention of the military in politics should end before the referendum and that the results of the referendum would be respected.
International Observers: Many international observers closely followed the referendum process. Observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said the referendum was generally free and fair, but made some criticisms.
These figures represented different views during and after the referendum process, and there were different interpretations of the results of the referendum. As a result of the referendum, the amendments were accepted and Turkey's constitutional structure was changed.
Erdogan Sends Greetings to “Beyond the Ocean” After Referendum
Following Turkey's constitutional referendum on September 12, 2010, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a remarkable statement. At a press conference held after the results of the referendum were announced, Prime Minister Erdoğan sent a special greeting to ’Beyond the Ocean“.
Stating that the results of the referendum were a turning point for Turkey, Erdoğan said, “Today, our nation has expressed its democratic will and shaped the future of Turkey with this will. These results have once again renewed our faith in democracy.”.
Then, sending a special greeting to “Across the Ocean”, he said, “The support of our friends and allies has contributed greatly to Turkey's progress towards democratization. We will continue on this path with determination.”.
Prime Minister Erdoğan's statement was a nod to Fethullah Gülen, who openly supported the referendum at the time and instructed “Take even those in their graves to the polls”.
After the July 15 coup attempt, Erdoğan said, “We were deceived, may my Lord and my nation forgive me.”.