Türkiye marks 105th anniversary of Parliament
The photo shows a ceremony held in front of the First Grand National Assembly building on Istasyon Street, seen from Ulus Square, Ankara, Türkiye, 1920. (Photo via Koc University)
Türkiye commemorates the 105th anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Parliament, a defining moment in the country’s struggle for independence and the road to the Republic.
The Grand National Assembly (TBMM), which laid the foundation for the Republic of Türkiye, officially opened its doors on April 23, 1920, in Ankara. Its inauguration marked a pivotal chapter in the fight against occupation and foreign intervention following World War I.
Turning point in national struggle
After the Ottoman Empire’s victories in battles such as Gallipoli during World War I, the nation found itself under increasing foreign occupation despite the signing of the Armistice of Mudros. In response, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha landed in Samsun on 19 May 1919, initiating what would become the Turkish War of Independence.
Through the landmark declarations of the Amasya Circular and the Erzurum and Sivas Congresses, the idea was firmly established that “national sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation.”
The path to Parliament
Elections were held in the fall of 1919, and the Ottoman Chamber of Deputies convened on Jan. 12, 1920, with 162 out of 168 members participating. On Jan. 28, during a closed session, the Chamber adopted the Misak-i Milli, or National Pact—a declaration of national unity and independence.
Following the Allied occupation of Istanbul on March 16, 1920, and the arrest of pro-independence parliamentarians, many deputies and intellectuals began fleeing to Ankara. The final session of the Ottoman Parliament took place on 18 March, after which it was indefinitely adjourned.
Birth of a sovereign parliament in Ankara
On March 19, 1920, Mustafa Kemal issued a circular announcing the formation of an “Assembly with extraordinary powers” in Ankara. The circular called for the election of new representatives and the participation of those who had escaped from the dissolved Ottoman Parliament.
Out of this call, 84 deputies came together to form the new Grand National Assembly. On April 22, Mustafa Kemal declared that this new body would henceforth serve as the sole legitimate authority from which all civil and military officials would take orders.
April 23, 1920: A day that changed history
On April 23, 1920, after Friday prayers at Hacibayram Mosque and a ceremonial sacrifice, the Grand National Assembly officially opened in Ankara. This historic event became one of the most critical milestones on the path to the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye.
The date later became a national holiday—April 23, National Sovereignty and Children’s Day—dedicated not only to the birth of a nation’s parliament but also to its future generations.
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