October 29, 1923, wasn't just another date on a calendar; it was the day a new nation finally, fully claimed its identity. The proclamation of the Turkish Republic wasn't a simple administrative shuffle: it was the dramatic conclusion to a crippling political crisis and the ultimate, thundering "yes" to the idea that had fueled a war—the people, not a sultan, were in charge. For a nation forged in the fire of the War of Independence, this was the moment its future was truly defined. In the days leading up to that day, the government was stuck and paralyzed by a broken system. The rules made forming a stable, effective cabinet nearly impossible. Imagine trying to run a country where any member of the Grand National Assembly could nominate ministers. It was a recipe for constant internal dispute and a government that was perpetually weak. Mustafa Kemal Paşa (later Atatürk) saw this gridlock not as a temporary problem, but as a fatal flaw. This was no time for half measures. A radical solution was the only way forward; he knew the moment was right. His resolve was absolute: "Today is our strongest time."
To break the impasse, he stood before the Assembly and proposed a revolutionary change to the law. The very first article he put forward was bold, direct, and left no room for doubt: "Turkey is a people's state governed by the republican system." You can imagine the tension in the room. This was it. The debate was immediate and intense. Opponents pleaded for caution, suggesting they should go slower, maybe just elect a prime minister first. Some even questioned if the Assembly had the right to make such a monumental decision. But supporters like Yunus Nadi Bey countered. Of course they had the right. They had been exercising that very power since the day they first gathered. As the vote drew near, the air was thick with emotion. This wasn't just a political debate; it was the end of an era. You could feel the weight of history in the raw sorrow of Hazım Bey of Niğde, who cried out, "Oh God!" as if watching the old world be torn down before his eyes. But the tide was irreversible. In a moment of striking clarity, Abdurrahman Şeref Bey posed the question that settled the matter: "What are we doing but giving a name to the newborn child?"
His point was perfect. Since April 23, 1920, the nation had already been acting as a republic in all but name. This was just making it official. And then, it was done. Late in the evening, at 8:30 p.m., the constitutional amendments were accepted. Just fifteen minutes later, at 8:45 p.m., Mustafa Kemal Paşa was elected the very first President of the Republic. A new cabinet was quickly formed by İsmet Paşa, and Fethi Bey was elected Speaker of the Assembly. That same night, the news was broadcast across the country. At midnight, a 101-gun salute thundered through the capital, each shot an echo announcing the birth of the Republic. Across the nation, people poured into the streets. The celebration was spontaneous, a wave of immense joy and relief.
But in Istanbul, some circles met the news with ice-cold hesitation and anxiety. They criticized the move, calling it "forced" and "unnatural." They even mocked the public's happiness, sneering that "a Republic doesn't live with applause, prayers, and festivities." It became painfully clear that a faction had been trying to undermine the new Republic from the start, hoping to "strangle the Republic in its cradle." In the face of this, Mustafa Kemal took on the immense responsibility with his signature resolve. He declared that the people's support would always be his foundation and stated with unshakable conviction: "The Turkish Republic will be prosperous, successful, and victorious." He also laid down a challenge. The Turkish people, he said, now had a duty to show the world that they were a modern, civilized nation, not just in their laws, but in their thinking, their daily lives, and their entire social fabric. The goal wasn't to fight the unstoppable tide of civilization, but to embrace it, guiding the nation's progress with its own powerful will and spirit toward a future of prosperity and enlightenment.