The True Path Party in Turkish political life

Continuing the way of Democrat Party(DP)- Justice Party(JP), the True Path Party(TPP) founded in 23 June 1983 after the Military Intervention of 12 September has become nationalist, conservative, democrat, secular, liberal and a supporter of free market economy and believes the superiority of the nation?s willpower. It is generally accepted that TPP has continued the public movement having started in 1946. After the political bans imposed on the politicians by the Turkish Constitution of 1982 were abolished by referendum dated 6 September 1987 Suleyman Demirel was elected as the General Leader of TPP. Within the framework of the changing movement having commenced with TPP III General Congress, new and young people were assigned duties at the management of the party. Participating in the election of 1991 with this changing movement, TPP became the first party with the vote ratio of 27.03 %. TPP-SDPP (Social Democratic Populist Party) and TPP-RPP (Republican People?s Party) coalition governments formed after the election of 20 October 1991 could not take the expected steps, particularly in the fields of democracy and economy. Decease of Turgut Ozal and the Presidency of Suleyman Demirel are the breaking points of the centre right politics. Following the election of 24 December 1995, TPP took part in ?Anayol? and ?Refahyol? coalition governments. After the presidency of Suleyman Demirel, the sense of politics of TPP and MP (Motherland Party) leaders to eliminate each other from the politics caused a serious decline in the centre right. Besides, some factors such as corruption, fraud and distrust played a role in deterioration of the centre right. TPP?s vote ratio was 19,1%, 27.03 %, 19.13 %, 12.01 % and 9.54 % in the general elections of 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2002 respectively. TPP became successful in the cities where the traditional vote base of DP and JP were strong. The vote potential of TPP was higher in the rural area. Positive relation of TPP votes with the agriculture sector pointed out that the greatest support to TPP was given by the rural area because of the loyalty to Suleyman Demirel, who has established the closest relation with the villagers. The social base of TPP consists of villagers, farmers, small business owners and merchandisers. As a result of the election of 3 November 2002, pursuant to the resignation of Ciller, Mehmet Agar was elected as the leader of the party. TPP got the name of ?Democrat Party? before the election of 2007. DP got out of the Parliament by getting 5.42 % of the votes in the election of 22 July 2007.Key Words : 1) Turkish Political Life, 2) Political Parties, 3) True Path Party,4) Süleyman Demirel, 5) Center Right