Until 1945, he was a member of Republican People's Party (CHP) which was the sole legal party. On 7 January 1946, he founded the Democrat Party along with Adnan Menderes, Fuat Köprülü and Refik Koraltan beginning Turkey's multiparty period, which still goes on to this day. A peaceful transfer of power from the CHP to DP happened in the 1950 elections, after which Bayar as elected Turkey's third president on 22 May 1950. He was subsequently re-elected in 1954 and 1957, serving for 10 years as president. In that period, Menderes was his prime minister. He was overthrown and incarcerated in the 1960 coup d'etat, after which he advocated for the restoration of rights of former politicians associated with the Democrat Party.