Constitutional Court Closed 24 Parties in 44 Years

Before the Constitutional Court was formed in 1963, parties were closed by criminal or civil courts of first instance.

Two parties closed pre-1963

When Turkey entered the multi-party phase after 1950, the Nation Party (Millet Partisi), which was then formed, was clsoed by the Ankara Criminal Court of First Instance in 1954. Another party, the Democrat Party (DP), was closed by the Ankara Civil Court of First Instance after the government was overturned by the army on 27 May 1960.

1963-1980: Six parties closed

The Constitutional Court closed six parties until the military coup of 12 September 1980:

• Workers' and Farmers' Party (ICP): 1968
• National Order Party (MNP): 20.05.1971
• Turkish Progressive Ideal Party (TIÜP): 24.06.1971
• Turkish Workers' Party (TIP): 20.07.1971
• Great Anatolia Party (BAP): 19.12.1972
• Turkish Labourers' Party (TEP): 08.05.1980

After 1980: Eighteen parties closed

After the military coup of 1980, there was a ban on forming political parties until 1983. From that period until now, the Constitutional Court has closed eighteen parties:

• Peace Party (Huzur Partisi): 25.10.1983
• Turkish United Communist Party (TBKP): 16.07.1991
• Republican People's Party (CHP): 24.09.1991
• Socialist Party (SP): 10.07.1992
• People's Labour Party (HEP): 14.07.1993
• Freedom and Democracy Party (ÖDP): 23.11.1993
• Socialist Turkey Party (STP): 30.11.1993
• Green Party (Yesiller Partisi): 10.02.1994
• Democracy Party (DP): 16.06.1994
• Democrat Party (DP): 13.09.1994
• Socialist Unity Party (SBP): 19.07.1995
• Democracy and Change Party (DDP): 19.03.1996
• Labour Party (EMEP): 14.02.1997
• Revival Party (Dirilis Partisi): 18.02.1997
• Welfare Party (Refah Partisi): 16.01.1998
• Democratic Mass Party (DKP): 26.02.1999
• Virtue Party (Fazilet Partisi): 22.06.2001
• People's Democracy Party (HADEP): 13.03.2003
  

And those that were not closed down...

There were attempts to close another sixteen parties in the period form 1983 until 2004. In the case of seven of them, closure demands were made because the parties had not entered general elections twice. However, the Constitutional Court rejected all the demands. (TK/AG)