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Kemal KilicdarogluTurkish politician, leader of the Republican People's Party since May 2010
Date of Birth: .
Country:  Turkey |
Content:
Early Life and Career
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was born in the village of Nazımiye in the Tunceli province of Turkey in 1948. After graduating from the Ankara Academy of Economics and Commerce in 1971, he completed an internship in France.
In 1983, Kılıçdaroğlu was appointed to the Directorate General of Revenues, where he held various positions before becoming Deputy Director General. In 1991, he was appointed Director General of the Craftsmen and Small Entrepreneurs Social Protection Fund.
Political Career
In 2002, Kılıçdaroğlu was elected to the Turkish Parliament as a member of the Republican People's Party (CHP) from Istanbul. He served as the party's parliamentary group leader until his candidacy for the party chairmanship. In 2009, he ran for mayor of Istanbul but lost.
On May 22, 2010, Kılıçdaroğlu was elected Chairman of the CHP after the resignation of Deniz Baykal. He campaigned against proposed constitutional amendments in the 2017 referendum that significantly increased the powers of the Turkish presidency.
Presidential Candidacy
In September 2022, Kılıçdaroğlu expressed his interest in running for president in the 2023 election. On February 4, 2023, he officially announced his candidacy, backed by an alliance of opposition parties.
Personal Life and Background
Kılıçdaroğlu belongs to the Alevi Kurêşan tribe and is also a descendant of the Bozok tribal confederation. He is married to Selvi and has two daughters and a son. He is fluent in French.
