Lazistan (Rize) Sancağında Son Osmanlı Meclisi Mebusan Seçimleri
Last Ottoman Parliamentary Elections in Lazistan (Rize) Sanjak

Summary/Abstract: World War I ended with the signing of the Armistice of Mudros for the Ottoman Empire. The Unionist leaders who held power had to leave the country. On the other hand, the majority of the parliament was still in the hands of Unionist cadres. The Allied Powers were uncomfortable with this situation. The last Sultan, Vahdettin, also saw the parliament as a threat to himself. For this reason, he dissolved the Parliament on December 21, 1919, citing the occupations. Mustafa Kemal Pasha went to Samsun in May 1919, started the congress process and lit the fire of the War of Independence. In the nine months that have passed, elections have not yet been held. Mustafa Kemal Pasha was aware that the National Struggle movement would provide legitimacy to the Turkish people thanks to the decisions taken by the parliament. For this reason, after the Sivas Congress, he asked all Anatolian cities to cut off communication with Istanbul in order to resign the anti-National Struggle Damat Ferit Pasha Government and take the election decision. These events undoubtedly put pressure on the sultan and Damat Ferit Pasha had to resign on October 1, 1919. Ali Rıza Pasha, who was assigned to form the new cabinet, decided to hold elections to reopen the Parliament as his first action. Thus, a feverish election campaign began in all Anatolian cities. In 1919, the election process started in Lazistan, which was a part of Trabzon Province, in mid-October. In the elections, which lasted about three months, many candidates from Lazistan competed fiercely to be elected. As a result, Mustafa Asım and Osman Nuri Bey were elected as Lazistan MPs. In this study, the election process in the Lazistan Sanjak will be discussed and the events that took place will be emphasized.

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