Evolution, change and abolition of the grand vizier to the prime minister in the light of Ottoman-Turkish constitutional developments

When the state organization is examined since the Ottoman Empire, it is seen that the Grand Vizier took an important place especially with the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Laws. This institution has undergone some changes in time and its content has been strengthened and weakened in certain periods. In this context, institution of the Grand Vizier needs to be examined in order to understand the Ottoman-Turkish state organization structure. The Grand Vizier, a powerful institution in the classical period, began to lose its power and authority in parallel with the loss of power of the Ottomans. Due to the constitutionalization process that started with the Sened-i İttifak, there was a different perspective from time to time in the position of the Grand Vizier. According to the first version of the Kanun-ı Esasi, the Grand Vizier, who was fully dependant to the authority of the Sultan, has been moving towards a position similar to the Prime Minister in the parliamentary systems with the 1909 amendments. With the declaration of the Republic, this institution was evolved into the Prime Ministry and in the constitutions that entered into force throughout the history of the Republic, some changes were made in its structure. However, one of the most prominent features of this institution was strengthening of the institution in the process. In particular, the entry into force of the 1982 Constitution, the implementation of the 10% threshold in the electoral system, the introduction of rationalized means of parliamentarism, caused the Prime Minister to strengthen. Of course, when the prime minister was strong, it was seen that there were no coalition governments and only one party formed the government. Therefore it can be said that a reflex against the coalition government in Turkey has been formed. As a result of this reflex, discussions about system of government started. And with the adoptation of constitutional amendment in 2007 which let the people elect the President, this debate gained more power. As a result, Turkey went under a system change. In the Presidential system introduced with the amendment of the Constitution, the Prime Ministry was abolished and single-headed executive branch has structured. Thus, it has been decided to abolish the institution, which preserved since the Ottoman classical period, under the names of Grand Vizier and Prime Minister. In the new system, the Prime Minister's institution has been abolished in the constitutional sense, but it will be seen through the implementation of the system whether or not an institution that will act as the Prime Minister will actually emerge. In this study, the institution that evolved from the Grand Vizier to the Prime Ministry was examined, and then the results of the system change in terms of the Prime Ministry were tried to be examined.