TURKEY: Second Free, First Fair

On Turkey's first free election day in 1946, a peasant at the polls picked up two lists—one of Republican People's Party candidates with Ismet Inönü's portrait at the top (for the benefit of illiterates), the other of Democratic Party candidates topped by a picture of Celál Bayar. He solemnly put the Inönü sheet in his breast pocket, saying, "My leader, your place is by my heart," and disdainfully dropped the Bayar sheet and a Democratic Party vote into the ballot box.

Though the Democrats benefited by some such mistakes, the incumbent Republicans...

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