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Suleyman DemirelTurkish conservative politician
Date of Birth: 01.11.1924
Country:  Turkey |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Engineering Career and Political Involvement
- Founding the Justice Party and Parliamentary Career
- Prime Ministership
- Return to Politics and Presidency
- Economic Legacy and Death
- Honors and Awards
Early Life and Education
Süleyman Demirel was born in Isparta, Turkey, on November 1, 1924. In 1949, he graduated with a degree in civil engineering from Istanbul Technical University.
Engineering Career and Political Involvement
After graduating, Demirel worked as an engineer before moving to the United States for internships in 1949-1950 and 1954-1955. Upon returning to Turkey, he became the Director General of the State Hydraulic Works from 1954 to 1960.
In 1960, Demirel entered academia, teaching at the Middle East Technical University. During this time, he also worked for the American company Morrison-Knudsen, which was constructing NATO military facilities in Turkey.
Founding the Justice Party and Parliamentary Career
In 1961, Demirel became a member of the Justice Party (JP). He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming Deputy Chairman in January 1963 and Chairman in October 1964. Demirel was elected to Parliament in 1964.
Prime Ministership
In February 1965, Demirel became Deputy Prime Minister. He served as Prime Minister multiple times from 1965 to 1993, alternating with his main rival, Bülent Ecevit.
In March 1971, Demirel was dismissed from power by the military due to his authoritarian rule. He returned to the position of Deputy Prime Minister in a coalition government in 1975-1980. However, a military coup in 1980 removed him from office.
Return to Politics and Presidency
After being banned from politics from 1980 to 1983, Demirel founded the True Path Party in 1987. He served as its Chairman and Prime Minister from 1990 to 1993. In 1993, he was elected President of Turkey, serving until 2000.
Economic Legacy and Death
Demirel oversaw significant economic reforms during his time as Prime Minister and President, which helped Turkey become more industrialized. On May 13, 2015, he was admitted to the hospital due to an acute respiratory infection and heart failure. Süleyman Demirel passed away on June 17, 2015.
Honors and Awards
Demirel received numerous awards and honors, including the:Manas-1000 Commemorative Golden Order and Medal (Kyrgyzstan, 1995)
Order of the King Tomislav with Ribbon and Grand Star (Croatia, 1994)
Order of Manas, 1st Degree (Kyrgyzstan, 1997)
Order of Barys, 1st Degree (Kazakhstan, 2001)
Order of Honor (Azerbaijan, 2013)
Honorary Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan
