Today in History – 28 December

National Chief, Unchanging President: İsmet İnönü

After İsmet İnönü was elected president on November 11, 1938, the First Extraordinary Meeting CHP Deputy President Celal Bayar convened in Ankara on December 26, 1938 proclaimed President İsmet İnönü as the “Unchanging Party President” and Atatürk as the “Eternal Chief.” The titled “National Chief” was also conferred upon İnönü during the same meeting.

According to the amendments to be made in the party by-laws as proposed to the Convention, the Unchanging Presidency of the party could be vacated only under three circumstances: 1) Death, 2) Extreme illness 3) Resignation.

Following the changes accepted unanimously, İsmet İnönü had become not only the president of the state, but the unchanging president of the single-party political rule. During the same meeting, Prime Minister Celal Bayar was elected as Deputy President of the party and Minister of the Interior Refik Saydam as the General Secretary.