19th government of Turkey


The 19th government of Turkey was a government in the history of Turkey. It is also called the first Menderes government.

Background

Democrat Party won the general elections held on 14 May 1950. This was the first election that was won by a party other than the Republican People's Party. Adnan Menderes of the Democrat Party became the prime minister.

The government

In the list below, the cabinet members who served only a part of the cabinet's lifespan are shown in the column "Notes".
TitleNameNotes
Prime MinisterAdnan Menderes
Deputy Prime MinisterSamet Ağaoğlu
Minister of StateFevzi Lütfi Karaosmanoğlu
Ministry of JusticeHilmi Özyörük
Ministry of National DefenseRefik Şevket İnce
Ministry of the InteriorRüknettin Nasuhioğlu
Ministry of Foreign AffairsFuat Köprülü
Ministry of FinanceHalil Ayan
Hasan Polatkan		22 May 1950 – 14 December 1950
14 December 1950 – 9 March 1951
Ministry of National EducationAvni Başman
Tevfik İleri		22 May 1950 – 3 August 1950
11 August 1950 – 9 March 1951
Ministry of Public WorksFahri Belen
Kemal Zeytinoğlu		22 May 1950 – 28 October 1950
22 December 1950 – 9 March 1951
Ministry of Health and Social SecurityNihat Raşit Belger
Ekrem Hayri Üstündağ		22 May 1950 – 19 September 1950
19 September 1950 – 9 March 1951
Ministry of Customs and MonopoliesNuri Özsan
Ministry of TransportTevfik İleri
Seyfi Kurtbek		22 May 1950 – 11 August 1950
11 August 1950 – 9 March 1951
Ministry of EstablishmentsMuhlis Ete
Ministry of Economy and CommerceHilmi Velibeşe
Ministry of AgricultureNihat İyriboz
Ministry of LabourHasan Polatkan
Hulusi Köymen		22 May 1950 – 22 December 1950
22 December 1950 – 9 March 1951

Aftermath

The government had the majority in the parliament, but Menderes resigned on 8 March 1951. According to journalist Metin Toker, Adnan Menderes asked one of his colleagues in the cabinet to resign, but the minister refused to resign. Legally, Menderes had no authority to force any minister to resign, and thus, Menderes preferred to end the entire government instead. But the president Celal Bayar appointed him to form the next government also.