Ahmet Necdet Sezer
Encyclopedia
Ahmet Necdet Sezer was the tenth President
of the Republic of Turkey
. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey
elected Sezer in 2000 after Süleyman Demirel
's seven year term expired. He was succeeded by Abdullah Gül
. His Family came from Serres
.
Faculty of Law
in 1962 and began his career as a judge in Ankara
. Following his military service at the Military Academy, he served first as a judge in Dicle
and Yerköy
, and later he became a supervisory judge in the High Court of Appeals
in Ankara. In 1978 he received LL.M. in civil law from the Faculty of Law in Ankara University.
. On 27 September 1988, he was appointed by the President Kenan Evren as a member of the Constitutional Court. On 6 January 1998, Ahmet Necdet Sezer was elected chief justice
of the Constitutional Court.
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He was elected president in May 2000
, becoming Turkey's first head of state to come from a judicial background. He was sworn in on May 16, 2000. His term was to expire on May 16, 2007, but because the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
failed to elect a new president, he retained the office pro tempore
until August 28, 2007 (the Constitution of Turkey
states that a President's term of office is extended until a successor is elected).
On February 21, 2001, during a quarrel in a National Security Council
meeting, he threw the constitutional code book at the Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit
. According to some circles, this falling-out was the main obvious reason for "Black Wednesday", a big economic crisis. Others claimed that the rapid reforms for the accession negotiations
with the European Union
and strong ties with the International Monetary Fund
caused the "Black Wednesday" crisis.
Sezer was a firm defender of secularism
, which was a point of contention between him and the ruling AKP
on many issues. On many occasions, he openly stated that the secular regime in Turkey was under threat but never gave any specific reasons. He believes that Islam
doesn't require women to wear headscarves
. Sezer went so far as to exclude from official receptions at the Presidential Palace
legislators' wives who wore headscarves.
During his presidency he has pardoned 260 convicted felons, 202 of whom were captured leftist militants. This type of pardon can be requested directly by the felon or the legal representative of the felon, but no political or court referral is necessary. Some organizations have used such pardons to criticize Sezer's presidency. On the other hand, Sezer also enacted new harsh laws to punish people who are connected with terrorism.
President of Turkey
The President of Turkey is the head of state of the Republic of Turkey. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office but has some important functions...
of the Republic of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey
Grand National Assembly of Turkey
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey , usually referred to simply as the Meclis , is the unicameral Turkish legislature. It is the sole body given the legislative prerogatives by the Turkish Constitution. It was founded in Ankara on 23 April 1920 in the midst of the Turkish War of Independence...
elected Sezer in 2000 after Süleyman Demirel
Süleyman Demirel
Sami Süleyman Gündoğdu Demirel, better known as Süleyman Demirel , is a Turkish politician who served as Prime Minister seven times and was the ninth President of Turkey.-Life:Demirel was born in İslamköy, a town in Isparta Province...
's seven year term expired. He was succeeded by Abdullah Gül
Abdullah Gül
Dr. Abdullah Gül, GCB is the 11th and current President of the Republic of Turkey, serving in that office since 28 August 2007. He previously served for four months as Prime Minister from 2002-03, and as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2003-07....
. His Family came from Serres
Serres
Serres is a city in Greece, seat of the Serres prefecture.Serres may also refer to:Places:* Serres, Germany, a part of Wiernsheim in Baden-WürttembergIn France:* Serres, Aude in the Aude département...
.
Early life
After finishing Afyonkarahisar High School in 1958, he graduated from the Ankara UniversityAnkara University
Ankara University is a public university in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. It was the first higher education institution founded in the Turkish Republic....
Faculty of Law
Ankara University, Law School
The Ankara University, Law School is a faculty for law of the Ankara University in Turkey.- History :Ankara University, Law School, was founded as a part of legal revolution in Turkey by endeavours of Mahmut Esat Bozkurt. The school was opened by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish...
in 1962 and began his career as a judge in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
. Following his military service at the Military Academy, he served first as a judge in Dicle
Dicle
Dicle is a town and district of Diyarbakır Province, Turkey. Population is 8436 .Dicle is also the Turkish name of the Tigris river, which runs through the district and gave its name to it. The name derives through Akkadian Idiqlat from the original Sumerian name for the river, Idigna....
and Yerköy
Yerköy
Yerköy is a town and district of Yozgat Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. According to 2000 census, population of the district is 48,889 of which 32,228 live in the town of Yerköy.- 2009 Great Union Party's rally :...
, and later he became a supervisory judge in the High Court of Appeals
High Court of Appeals
The Court of Cassation, also called Supreme Court of Appeals of Turkey which was founded in 1868 is the last instance for reviewing verdicts given by courts of criminal and civil justice.-History:...
in Ankara. In 1978 he received LL.M. in civil law from the Faculty of Law in Ankara University.
Chief Justice
On 7 March 1983, Sezer was elected as a member to the High Court of Appeals. As he was a member in the Second Chamber of Law, he was nominated by the plenary assembly of the High Court of Appeals among the three candidates for appointment as member of the Constitutional CourtTurkish Constitutional Court
The Constitutional Court of Turkey is the highest legal body for constitutional review in Turkey. It "examines the constitutionality, in respect of both form and substance, of laws, decrees having the force of law, and the Rules of Procedure of the Turkish Grand National Assembly"...
. On 27 September 1988, he was appointed by the President Kenan Evren as a member of the Constitutional Court. On 6 January 1998, Ahmet Necdet Sezer was elected chief justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the Constitutional Court.
Presidency (2000–2007)
Turkish presidential election, 2000
The 2000 Turkish presidential election consisted of a first round election on 27 April 2000 followed by a second round vote on 1 May and a third on 5 May. It occurred at the end of 9th president Süleyman Demirel's seven-year term in office...
, becoming Turkey's first head of state to come from a judicial background. He was sworn in on May 16, 2000. His term was to expire on May 16, 2007, but because the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
Grand National Assembly of Turkey
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey , usually referred to simply as the Meclis , is the unicameral Turkish legislature. It is the sole body given the legislative prerogatives by the Turkish Constitution. It was founded in Ankara on 23 April 1920 in the midst of the Turkish War of Independence...
failed to elect a new president, he retained the office pro tempore
Pro tempore
Pro tempore , abbreviated pro tem or p.t., is a Latin phrase which best translates to "for the time being" in English. This phrase is often used to describe a person who acts as a locum tenens in the absence of a superior, such as the President pro tempore of the United States Senate.Legislative...
until August 28, 2007 (the Constitution of Turkey
Constitution of Turkey
This article relates to a current event. See also the Turkish constitutional referendum, 2010The Constitution of the Republic of Turkey is Turkey's fundamental law. It establishes the organization of the government and sets out the principles and rules of the state's conduct along with its...
states that a President's term of office is extended until a successor is elected).
On February 21, 2001, during a quarrel in a National Security Council
National Security Council (Turkey)
The National Security Council comprises the Chief of Staff, select members of the Council of Ministers, and the President of the Republic...
meeting, he threw the constitutional code book at the Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit
Bülent Ecevit
Mustafa Bülent Ecevit was a Turkish politician, poet, writer and journalist, who was the leader of Republican People's Party , later of the Democratic Left Party and four-time Prime Minister of Turkey.- Personal life :...
. According to some circles, this falling-out was the main obvious reason for "Black Wednesday", a big economic crisis. Others claimed that the rapid reforms for the accession negotiations
Accession of Turkey to the European Union
Turkey's application to accede to the European Union was made on 14 April 1987. Turkey has been an associate member of the European Union and its predecessors since 1963...
with the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and strong ties with the International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
caused the "Black Wednesday" crisis.
Sezer was a firm defender of secularism
Secularism in Turkey
Secularism in Turkey defines the relationship between religion and state in the country of Turkey. Secularism was first introduced with the 1928 amendment of the Constitution of 1924, which removed the provision declaring that the "Religion of the State is Islam", and with the later reforms of...
, which was a point of contention between him and the ruling AKP
Justice and Development Party (Turkey)
The Justice and Development Party , abbreviated JDP in English and AK PARTİ or AKP in Turkish, is a centre-right political party in Turkey. The party is the largest in Turkey, with 327 members of parliament...
on many issues. On many occasions, he openly stated that the secular regime in Turkey was under threat but never gave any specific reasons. He believes that Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
doesn't require women to wear headscarves
Headscarf
Headscarves or head scarves are scarves covering most or all of the top of a woman's hair and her head. Headscarves may be worn for a variety of purposes, such as for warmth, for sanitation, for fashion or social distinction; with religious significance, to hide baldness, out of modesty, or other...
. Sezer went so far as to exclude from official receptions at the Presidential Palace
Çankaya Köskü
Çankaya Köşkü or Çankaya Köşk is the official residence of the President of Turkey. It is located in the Çankaya district of Ankara, which lends its name to the palace. The name is sometimes used as a metonymy for the current president. The Çankaya Presidential Compound stretches over of land...
legislators' wives who wore headscarves.
During his presidency he has pardoned 260 convicted felons, 202 of whom were captured leftist militants. This type of pardon can be requested directly by the felon or the legal representative of the felon, but no political or court referral is necessary. Some organizations have used such pardons to criticize Sezer's presidency. On the other hand, Sezer also enacted new harsh laws to punish people who are connected with terrorism.
External links
- Former presidents: Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Presidency of the Republic of Turkey