Today in History – 11 November

New President İsmet İnönü

Convened the day after Atatürk’s death on November 11th under Abdülhalik Renda, the Grand National Assembly elected İsmet İnönü the new president of the Republic of Turkey with 348 votes of the deputies. Sworn in after the voting process, İnönü delivered the following address:

At this moment, the memory of Atatürk fills our hearts with inconsolable pain. We see the extraordinary services of Atatürk as complete and immaculate works in the Turkish state. The name of “Kemal Atatürk” will forever live with love and respect in the hearts of our grateful nation that has raised extraordinary men and women…

We are in the service of a great and heroic nation. Turkey’s indivisible, impassable nature and resoluteness in never surrendering her national rights vis-à-vis any hardship is stronger and more alive than ever…

Having carried the Turkish nation to the level of a great civilization in such a short time and opened ways of social life and productive paths to progress, the reforms are the dearest and most precious assets of our hearts and conscience.

The Grand National Assembly is the most valuable treasure of the Turkish nation.

Having overcome all possible challenges in the past, the Grand National Assembly of Turkey will be the source of grand accomplishments, victories, and happiness in the future as well.