The reconstruction of power in the Second Constitutionalist period: The Bâbiâli Raid

Although 1908 was an important turning point in terms of the continuation of the freedoms of the Ottoman Empire that had begun with the Tanzimat, it was not a good test in terms of protecting these freedoms. Elections could not be held properly, the separation between the legislative-executive-judiciary could not be successfully implemented by the governments established, and the government that gained power tried to preserve its sovereignty by putting pressure on its opponents. At the end of 1912, the Committee of Union and Progress, which had lost power to its opponents, saw its own power as the only way to overcome the intimidation policy against it and to liberate the country and especially the former capital Edirne, which was under occupation, by taking advantage of the situation due to the sensitivity of the country during the Balkan War. Since they did not see it possible to overthrow the existing government through legitimate means to realise this aim, since they considered themselves the architect and protector of the constitutionalism, and since they considered it inevitable to intervene for the future of the country, they thought of overthrowing the cabinet by force and succeeded in this. After the Committee of Union and Progress seized power with a bloody raid, the Grand Vizier of the period was assassinated by the opposition in response to this unlawful intervention. With the recapture of Edirne, which took place shortly after this murder, the CUP seized the opportunity and adopted a completely authoritarian attitude. The country was governed according to the decisions of the three leaders who held all the power of the Union and Progress and thus the state. Under the leadership of Enver, Talat and Cemal Pashas, very harsh measures were taken against the opposition and the effect of this authoritarian rule continued until 1918.