1961 in Turkey

Events in the year 1961 in Turkey.

Parliament

 * 12th Parliament of Turkey (from 6 January)

Incumbents

 * President – Cemal Gürsel
 * Prime Minister
 * Cemal Gürsel (up to 26 October)
 * Fahri Özdilek, acting (26 October – 20 November)
 * İsmet İnönü (from 20 November)


 * Leader of the opposition – Ekrem Alican (from 12 November)

Ruling party and the main opposition

 * Ruling party – Republican People's Party (CHP) and coalition partner (Justice Party (AP)) (from 20 November)
 * Main opposition – New Turkey Party (YTP) (from 20 November)

Cabinet

 * 24th government of Turkey (up to 5 January)
 * 25th government of Turkey (5 January – 20 November)
 * 26th government of Turkey (from 20 November)

Events

 * 6 January – constituent assembly
 * 1 April – The ban on political activities was lifted
 * 3 June – Fenerbahçe won the championship of Turkish football league.
 * 9 July – Referendum on the new Turkish constitution (65% approved)
 * 15 September – Verdicts (on the Democrat Party (DP) members) pronounced
 * 16/17 September – Executions of Prime Minister Adnan Menderes, Minister of Foreign Affairs Fatin Rüştü Zorlu and Minister of Finance Hasan Polatkan
 * 15 October – General elections (CHP 173 seats, AP 158 seats, YTP 65 seats, CKMP 54 seats)
 * 26 October – Cemal Gürsel was elected as the new president. Fahri Özdilek was appointed as the acting prime minister.
 * 20 November - Civilian government

Births

 * 1 January – Edibe Sözen, politician
 * 31 January – Fatih Kısaparmak, singer and songwriter
 * 3 May – Leyla Zana, politician
 * 15 June – Gülten Kışanak, politician
 * 1 July – Birgül Ayman Güler, politician
 * 17 December – Ersun Yanal, football coach

Deaths

 * 8 January – Yaşar Doğu (aged 48), wrestler
 * 26 February – Hasan Ali Yücel (aged 64), writer and former minister of National education
 * 16 June – Peyami Safa (aged 62), writer and journalist
 * 16 September – Hasan Polatkan (aged 46), former minister of Finance
 * 16 September – Fatin Rüştü Zorlu (aged 51), former minister of Foreign Affairs
 * 17 September – Adnan Menderes (aged 62), former prime minister (19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd, and 23rd government of Turkey)
 * 19 September – Şemsettin Günaltay (aged 78), former prime minister (1940s)