22 JUNE 1976 – 2004
Some former deputies and senators, who are respectful to the human rights and were able to talk about the fate of the country in the eminent Assembly by their services as believing in the virtue of the democratic regime with multi political party, had felt the necessity to come together under an association in 1970’s. 1973 General Elections had brought out the most renewed members of 50 members of the Republic Senate and 70% of 450 deputies. There were about 2000 parliamentarian who became the parliamentarian in the legalization organs from the first assembly in that date and whom there are President of Republic, Chairmen of the Republican Senate and National Assembly, Prime Ministers and Ministers.
29 senators and deputies, who aim “to provide the friendship between the Parliamentarians who were or are charged as the members in the TGNA or Legalization Assemblies, and to provide cultural, intellectual and spiritual support to them; to provide that the public get benefit from its members with the scientific and cultural activities and to provide the developing of the political and cultural environment, placing the parliament traditions and strengthening and continuity of our democracy”, had come together on 22 June 1976 under these environment and conditions and established an association under the name of “FORMER PARLIAMENTARIANS’ SOCIETY”.
The first chairman of the society was the former Minister of Justice, Yusuf Ziya Önder. Yusuf Ziya Önder had carried out this task with a great self-sacrifice for 8 years until his death on April 1984. The society which starts its activities in 1976 had held 13 General Meeting until today and had taken long distances in providing services to its members and to its objective. The works which had been executed under the humblest conditions from June 1976 to the end of 1977 were especially provided for the registration of members. The similar works which were executed in Ankara had been executed by the executive boards which were established in Istanbul and İzmir and it was taken contact with the former parliamentarians and they were invited to be the member of society. When the society had established an office in Kızılay about the end of 1977’s, the member number had reached to 300. The first ordinary general meeting had been held on December of 1977. The most important resolution in this meeting was to transform the name “FORMER PARLIAMENTARIANS’ SOCIETY” into the name of “TURKISH PARLIAMENTARIANS’ ASSOCIATION”. The utilization of the word of “TURKISH” has been allowed by the resolution of the council of ministers which was taken on April 1978 and the Association has been accepted by the resolution which was taken by the Council of Ministers on April 1986 as the societies which are operated in favor of PUBLIC INTERESTS.
Turkish Parliamentarians’ Association has became one of the founder members of Former Parliamentarians’ Society of the Member States of European Union and European Council with France, German, Italy and Belgium. Then, the number of Member States had reached to 13 by the participations of Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Ireland, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland. Its head office is located in the Belgium Parliament in Brussels. The Association performs the lobby activities among the Member States and carries out the scientific and cultural activities by holding the meetings in certain intervals and organizing the workshops and colloquiums, and issuing the important reports.
The head office of Turkish Parliamentarians’ Association is located in Ankara. Today, it has a Dormitory and Social Facilities in Gaziosmanpaşa and branches in Istanbul and İzmir and Dormitory in İzmir except the office in TGNA in Ankara. It has totally 28 personnel who provide services in the head office and branches.
As of today, there are about 2500 members in our Association.