ABSTRACT
In May 1950, a general election was held in the Turkish Republic that resulted in an overwhelming victory for the opposition. The Republican People's Party (RPP), had ruled the country for twenty-seven years. It was now defeated in a free and peaceful election by the recently created Democrat Party (DP). The RPP government resigned, and the victorious Democrats formed a new administration that took power immediately. Of close to 8.5 million voters, 88 percent cast their votes and elected a parliament of 396 members from the DP, 68 from the RPP, 1 from the National Party, and 7 independents.
