H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minster, Republic of Turkey
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was born in Istanbul, graduated from Kasımpaşa Piyale Primary School, Istanbul Imam Hatip High School, and completed extra courses to receive his diploma from Eyup High School. He continued his higher education at Marmara University in the Economic and Commercial Faculty.
Prime Minister Erdoğan, who from an early age was engaged in civil society and political life, was always aware of the importance of team work and team spirit. He was involved in football from 1969 to 1982, during which time his interest in world affairs and social problems transformed him into a young idealist.
As an active member of the Turkish National Student’s Union, Prime Minister Erdoğan was elected as Beyoglu’s youth president of the National Salvation Party, and then eventually Istanbul’s president of the same party. Following the 1980 coup d’état, he concentrated in the private sector initially as an adviser and then as a senior manager.
Prime Minister Erdoğan continued his active political career with the Welfare Party in 1983 and became the Welfare Party Beyoglu president in 1984. As the Welfare Party president of Istanbul, Prime Minister Erdoğan developed a new organizational structure where he focused specifically on women and youth participation in politics.
In 1994 he was elected as the mayor of Istanbul, one of the world’s most important metropolises. During his tenure, through the use of his political talents, an emphasis on teamwork, and an effective use of human resources, he was able to produce effective solutions for Istanbul’s most common problems, including infrastructure and the lack of resources.
In 1997, Prime Minister Erdoğan was imprisoned after reciting a poem, one that was advised by the National Education Ministry for teachers to use in public schools.
Following public demand and evolvement through the democratic process, Prime Minister Erdoğan established the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) with his associates and was elected as the president. The AK Party grew in popularity from the beginning of its establishment, and following the 2002 general elections became the ruling majority party in the Turkish parliament.
Prime Minster Erdoğan was able to become a candidate for member of parliament after the necessary legal changes and removal of the obstacles in front of his candidacy and finally became a member of parliament in 2003 and the prime minister of Turkey. In this role, Prime Minister Erdoğan has implemented numerous reform packages for the development of Turkey. His period has come to be known as the “Silent Revolutions” as he has worked towards concrete welfare, democracy, and freedom.
