1987 Turkish constitutional referendum explained

Should the 10 and 5-year political bans brought by the temporary 4th article of the 1982 Constitution be lifted?
Date:6 September 1987
Country:Turkey
Yes:11711461
No:11636395
Invalid:1088965
Electorate:26095630
Map:Turkish constitutional referendum 1987 2.svg
Mapdivision:province

A constitutional referendum was held in Turkey on 6 September 1987 to amend the "temporary article" 4 of the constitution, which had forbidden the leaders of banned parties (a total of 242 people) from taking part in politics for 10 years. The governing party ANAP agreed to the referendum after a compromise with the opposition parties regarding constitutional changes. ANAP campaigned for No, while most opposition parties campaigned for Yes vote.[1] The changes were narrowly approved by 50.2% of voters, with a 93.36% turnout.[2]

Campaign positions

In the referendum, "yes" voters used the color blue, while "no" voters used the orange color as a symbol. Political parties close to banned leaders participated in the 'Blue Color Yes' (Turkish: Mavi Renkli Evet) campaign carried out by four banned leaders to lift the bans in the said referendum. True Path Party, Democratic Left Party, Nationalist Task Party, Welfare Party supported a "yes" vote. In addition, Social Democratic Populist Party, although not under the control of any banned leader, called for a 'Yes' vote for September 6, especially their leader Erdal İnönü organized country-wide rallies for this purpose.[3]

Political parties

Party!Leader!Political orientation!Ref
Parties attended the last general election
YesSHPSocial Democratic Populist PartyErdal İnönüCenter-left
MÇPNationalist Task PartyAli KoçFar-right
DYPTrue Path PartyHüsamettin CindorukCenter-right
DSPDemocratic Left PartyRahşan EcevitCenter-left
RPWelfare PartyAhmet TekdalFar-right
NoANAPMotherland Party (Turkey)Turgut ÖzalCenter-right

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Kalafat . Haluk . 2 February 2017 . 1987 Referandumu: Özal 75 Bin Oyla Kaybetti . Bianet .
  2. [Dieter Nohlen]
  3. Çelebi . Onur . May 2021 . Siyasi Üslup Meselesi Bağlamında Renklerin Savaşı (6 Eylül 1987 Referandumu) . Tarihçi . 1 . 2 . 54–78.