Resource; Encyclopedia of Orient
Turkish politician and prime minister 1950-1960.Menderes became quite famous of selling or distributing most of the estate he had inherited to small shareholder. Menderes was more tolerant towards traditional lifestyles and the different forms of practice of Islam than Atatürk and his party had been. While remaining pro-Western, he was more active than his predecessors in building relations with Muslim states. Menderes had a more liberal economical policy than earlier prime ministers, and allowed more private enterprise. In general Menderes' economical politics made him popular among the poor half of the population, but it also brought the country in insolvency due to an enormous increase in imports of goods and technology. But Menderes was most intolerant towards criticism, and instituted press censorship and had journalists arrested. Mederes became increasingly unpopular among both the intellectuals and the military, who feared that the ideals of Atatürk were in danger. This eventually brought upon him his fall.
BIOGRAPHY1899: Born in Aydin, as son of a wealthy landowner.1930: Enters parliament as member of the only legal party, Republican People's Party (RPP).1945: Menderes is expelled from the RPP.1946: Together with three others, Mederes forms the Democrat Party (DP), following the introduction of a new multiparty system in Turkey.1950: In the free elections, the DP wins with clair margins to the RPP.1954: Despite economical problems, Mederes wins the general elections again.1957: Mederes wins a third election in a row, despite the continuing decline of the economy.1960 May 27: A military coup is staged, and the government of Mederes is overthrown.- October 17: Mederes is accused with a number of charges, like embezzling state funds, extravagance and corruption.1961: Menderes is sentenced to death, and executed by hanging.