Ottoman Liberal People's Party Explained
Ottoman Liberal People's Party was a political party founded during the Armistice period under the leadership of Ali Fethi Bey by state officials and politicians who resigned from the Union and Progress Party following its 1918 congress.[1] [2] Mustafa Kemal Pasha was one of its most prominent supporters.
Intraparty opposition
On September 30, 1918, the Committee of Union and Progress convened under the chairmanship of Talaat Pasha. Speaking at this meeting, Ali Fethi Bey said the following:[3] This speech caused the opposition within the party to rally around Ali Fethi Bey and laid the foundations of a new party.
At the October 10, 1918 parliamentary meeting, Ali Fethi Bey broke away from the party by running for the chairmanship of the Chamber of Deputies despite the party's decision on Halil Bey, and although he lost in this vote, he received 53 votes.[4]
Foundation
Liberal People's Party was founded under the leadership of Ali Fethi Bey by civil servants who left the Union and Progress Party during the government of Ahmed Izzet Pasha. There is no exact information about the date of its foundation. On October 19, 1918, it is stated that the party was established in the Parliament. Based on this, it is estimated that the party was founded a few days before.[2]
Party program
- On or after November 1, 1918, there was a 94-point party program published in various newspapers in Istanbul.[5]
- While the religion of the state was defined as Islam in Article 1 of the party's program, the freedom of opinion in Article 3 was seen as a liberal step.
- From Article 50 to Article 60, the party's education policy was stated. Private educational institutions were allowed, provided that they were under the supervision of the state, and in addition, the establishment of agricultural and industrial schools was envisioned.[6]
- The party envisaged a production-based economic program and emphasized the importance of road construction and maritime trade.[7]
Parliament and party activities
OHAF, together with the Renewal Party, took an oppositional stance against the grand vizierate of Ahmet Tevfik Pasha. Both parties were seen as the continuation of the Committee of Union and Progress.[8]
Dissolution
After the dissolution of the Committee of Union and Progress, the government of Damat Ferid Pasha, which acted against the Unionists, also dissolved the Liberal People's Party with the decision of the Meclis-i Vükelâ dated May 6, 1919. Regarding the closure, it was explained that they were a renamed version of the Committee of Union and Progress and for this reason, it was decided to cancel the party's founding petition.[9]
Although Yozgat MP Şakir Bey tried to re-establish the party in 1919, he failed to achieve results.[9]
References
- Book: Tunaya, Tarik Zafer. 1995. tr. İstanbul. 466402778. 404. Arba Yayinlari. İkİncİ Baski. Türkİye'de Sİyasİ Partİler 1859-1952.
- Book: Tunaya, Tarık Zafer. 1999. tr. Cağaloğlu, İstanbul. 47781102. 91. İleteşim Yayınları. Genişletilmiş baskı. Türkiye'de siyasal partiler.
- Web site: 29 January 2023. 29 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230129165646/http://libra.omu.edu.tr/tezler/42381.pdf. 2003. Bünyamin. tr. Kocaoğlu. Samsun. 83. Ondokuz Mayıs University. İttihat ve Terakki Fırkasının Dağılması - Doktora Tezi.
- Book: Akşin, Sina. 1988. tr. İstanbul. 4033975. 35. İstanbul hükümetleri ve Millı̂ Mücadele.
- Book: Tunaya, Tarık Zafer. 1999. tr. Cağaloğlu, İstanbul. 47781102. 95-103. İleteşim Yayınları. Genişletilmiş baskı. Türkiye'de siyasal partiler.
- Book: 1918. 4–5. Osmanlı Hürriyetperver Ahvam Fırkası.
- Book: 1918. 6–7. Osmanlı Hürriyetperver Ahvam Fırkası.
- Web site: 6 March 2023. 11 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190711211923/http://www.openaccess.hacettepe.edu.tr:8080/xmlui/bitstream/handle/11655/4683/10199456.pdf. 4 July 2018. Onur. tr. Zeki. 47. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Atatürk İlkeleri ve İnkılâp Tarihi Enstitüsü Atatürk İlkeleri ve İnkılâp Tarihi Anabilim Dalı. Birinci Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi'nde Bağımsız Mebuslar ve Yasama Çalışmaları (1920-1923). kaynağında belirtilen kaynak Book: Kocaoğlu, Bünyamin. tr. 95–186. Mütarekede İttihatçılık.
- Book: Tunaya, Tarık Zafer. 1999. tr. Cağaloğlu, İstanbul. 47781102. 94. İleteşim Yayınları. Genişletilmiş baskı. Türkiye'de siyasal partiler.
