TURKISH POLITICIANS

Abdullah Gül (Kayseri 1950- )

Born in Kayseri in 1950. Graduated from Istanbul University with B.A. degree in economics in 1971. Received Ph.D. degree from the same university in 1983. During his graduate studies attended programs in Exter and London .

Participated in the foundation of Sakarya University Industrial Engineering Department. Taught economics courses between 1980-1983. From 1983 to 1991 worked at Islamic Development Bank, Jeddah, as economist. Became Associate Professor on International Economics in 1991.

In 1991, elected as a Member of the Parliament from the Welfare Party. Became member of the Planning and Budgetary Commission in the Parliament. In 1993, appointed as the Deputy Chairman of the Welfare Party in charge of Foreign Affairs. Reelected in 1995 as a member of Parliament. Became member of the Foreign Affairs Commission. From 1996 to 1997, served as a Minister of State and Government Spokesman.

In 1999, elected from the Virtue Party, for the third term, as a Member of Parliament. From 1992 to 2001 served as the Member of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council Europe. Served as the member of Committee on Culture and Education and Political Committee of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly.

In 2001 awarded with Pro-merito Medal of the Council of Europe and became Honoree Associate of Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly.

In August 2001, became the Founding Board Member of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party). He was appointed as the new Turkish Prime Minister by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on 16 November 2002. His 25-member cabinet was sworn in on 19 November. The new government won a confidence vote in the Turkish parliament (TBMM) on 28 November.

After the end of political ban of Tayyip Erdogan, he stepped down from the seat of Prime Minister. Currently, Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Member of Parliament, the Deputy Chairman of the AK Party in charge of Political and Juridical Affairs and member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.

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Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Istanbul 1954- )

He was born in 1954 in Istanbul. Completed his education in Istanbul as well graduating from Marmara University College of Business. Starting from teenage years he was interested in politics and business. He was also a professional soccer player. He was 15 when attended his political party's youth branch.

His success as a party chairman in Istanbul made him elected as mayor in 1994. While he was the city chairman of former Welfare Party in Istanbul, he had developed a new form of organization and had carried it out to the municipal management. 

His openness to the development and his determination to follow the tasks to be done, made him successful in municipal management. By that, he brought new concepts and methods to the political structural system. During his term as a mayor, people used to call him as "the sound of the silent masses".

He was one of the most successful political figures in Turkey for many years. He had solved many complex infrastructure problems in the municipality, as a result he became a role model in the eyes of the public.

He was banned by Turkish Superior Election Board from holding any public office on account of his prior conviction for "inciting religious hatred" among the masses. After his political ban ended, he became the Prime Minister of Turkey as the leader of Justice and Development Party (AK Party).

He is married and has four children.

 

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