国民救済党
In 1972, he succeeded İsmet İnönü as the leader of the party. Upon assuming the leadership of the CHP, Ecevit played a major role in redefining the party's political position in the centre-left (), which proved controversial. In the 1973 general election, the CHP won a plurality of the votes and seats in parliament. Despite the party's secular credentials, Ecevit formed a coalition with the Islamist National Salvation Party (MSP) headed by Necmettin Erbakan. Despite lasting only ten months, Ecevit's first government was responsible for the successful Turkish invasion of Cyprus, for which he is nicknamed the 'Conqueror of Cyprus' ().