Süleyman Demirel
Encyclopedia
Sami Süleyman Gündoğdu Demirel, better known as Süleyman Demirel (sylejˈman demiˈɾel; born 1 November 1924), is a Turkish
politician who served as Prime Minister seven times and was the ninth President of Turkey
.
, a town in Isparta Province
. Upon completion of his elementary school education in his hometown, he attended middle school and high school in Isparta and Afyon, respectively. He graduated from the school of civil engineering
at the Istanbul Technical University
in 1949. Demirel worked in the state department for electrical power planning in 1949. He undertook postgraduate studies on irrigation
, electrical technologies and dam
construction in the United States
, first in 1949-1950, then in 1954-1955. During the construction of the Seyhan Dam
, Demirel worked as a project engineer and in 1954 was appointed Head of the Department of Dams. As of 1955, he served as Director General of the State Hydraulic Works
(DSİ). In this capacity, Demirel was to supervise the construction of a multitude of dams, power plants, and irrigation facilities.
After the 1960 coup d'état, he was drafted to the Turkish Army
for compulsory military service. Upon completion of his military service, he worked as a freelance engineer and a representative of Morrison Construction, a U.S. company. During this period, he also worked as a part-time lecturer of hydraulic engineering
at the Middle East Technical University
(ODTÜ) in Ankara
.
founded by the former General Ragıp Gümüşpala, as directed by the Head of State Cemal Gürsel
as the replacement of the Democrat Party that was closed after the military coup of 27 May 1960. Journalist and MP Cihat Baban claims in The Gallery of Politics (Politika Galerisi), that Cemal Gürsel told him:
Demirel was elected Chairman at the second grand party convention on 28 November 1964. He facilitated the formation of a coalition government
that ruled between February and October 1965 under the premiership of Suat Hayri Ürgüplü
, in which he served as Deputy Prime Minister
. Under his leadership, the AP won an unprecedented majority of the votes in the elections of 10 October 1965 and formed a majority government
. Demirel thus became the youngest-ever Prime Minister in Turkish history, and the second democratically-elected Prime Minister after Adnan Menderes
who had won elections three times in the 1950s, but was executed after a military coup d'état in 1960.
As deputy from Isparta, Demirel became Turkey’s 12th Prime Minister and ruled the country for four years. In the next elections on 10 October 1969, his party was the sole winner by a landslide once again. He resigned after the military memorandum of 12 March 1971. He was not able to win the elections that were held in 1973 and 1977; however, between 1971 and 1980, he served as Prime Minister for three more times, albeit with coalition partners, during 1975-1977, 1977–1978, and 1979–1980, respectively.
, he was banned from involvement in active politics for ten years. In 1986, however, Demirel launched a national campaign for the lifting of the bans and initiated a national referendum
on the issue.
The 6 September 1987 referendum allowed him to return to active politics. Only 18 days later, Demirel was elected Chairman at the extraordinary convention of the True Path Party
(DYP) that replaced the Adalet Partisi. He was re-elected Deputy of Isparta
at the elections of 29 November 1987.
Following the elections of 20 October 1991, Demirel became Prime Minister once again in a coalition government with the Social Democratic People's Party
.
After the sudden death of President Turgut Özal
, he became the ninth President
on 16 May 1993, elected by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
.
On 10 March 1995, he became aware of a coup attempt against President Heydar Aliyev
of Azerbaijan
(prepared by his predecessor Ebulfeyz Elçibey) with the assistance of the Turkish intelligence
and security agencies, and warned Aliyev.
Demirel was able to keep his position as President when he collaborated with the military during the 1997 "post-modern coup" in Turkey. He served as President until 16 May 2000, for the constitutional term of seven years.
During his service for the development and industrialization of the country as a director general at the age of 30, and a political party chairman and the youngest Turkish prime minister at the age of 40, his overall tenure was shorter than only İsmet İnönü
's.
Following retirement from politics, Demirel has frequently been a panelist and speaker at several universities in Turkey.
, both of which are in Isparta
are named after him. So are the Süleyman Demirel Stadium in Antalya
and the Süleyman Demirel Medical Centre of the Atatürk University in Erzurum
. There are also two important main street
s named after him: one in Istanbul
and the other in Muğla
.
for his contributions to development of Azerbaijan–Turkey relations and constructive position on Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, creation of unity among Turkic states by President of Azerbaijan
Heydar Aliyev
on 12 June 1999. He is also a Collar of the Estonian Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
, a recipient of the Polish Order of the White Eagle (1993) and a Knight Grand Cross of the Croatian Grand Order of King Tomislav
.
. His fedora hat is almost as famous as he is.
Also, whenever there is political distress, Turkish media or his followers call on him with the words "Kurtar bizi baba". ( Father, save us.)
He is well known for his phrases, such as "Dün dündür, bugün bugündür" ( Yesterday is yesterday, today is today). He usually says this phrase when he changes his stand on a subject. "Benzin vardı da biz mi içtik?" ( Did we drink the gasoline, as if there was any?) He explains that he is not responsible for the gas shortages in '70s.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
politician who served as Prime Minister seven times and was the ninth President of Turkey
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...
.
Life
Demirel was born in İslamköyAtabey
Atabey is a town and district of Isparta Province in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. The mayor is Ali Bal . Tem population is 4153 as of 2010.-External links:*...
, a town in Isparta Province
Isparta Province
Isparta Province is a province in southwestern Turkey. Its adjacent provinces are Afyon to the northwest, Burdur to the southwest, Antalya to the south, and Konya to the east. It has an area of 8,993 km² and a population of 448,298 up from 434,771...
. Upon completion of his elementary school education in his hometown, he attended middle school and high school in Isparta and Afyon, respectively. He graduated from the school of civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
at the Istanbul Technical University
Istanbul Technical University
Istanbul Technical University is an international technical university located in Istanbul, Turkey. It is the world's third oldest technical university dedicated to engineering sciences as well as social sciences recently, and is one of the most prominent educational institutions in Turkey...
in 1949. Demirel worked in the state department for electrical power planning in 1949. He undertook postgraduate studies on irrigation
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
, electrical technologies and dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
construction in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, first in 1949-1950, then in 1954-1955. During the construction of the Seyhan Dam
Seyhan Dam
The Seyhan Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Seyhan River north of Adana, TurkeyThe dam was built in the 1950s as the first in a series of hydroelectric projects funded by the World Bank. The construction project was authorized by Prime Minister Adnan Menderes. The project manager was Süleyman...
, Demirel worked as a project engineer and in 1954 was appointed Head of the Department of Dams. As of 1955, he served as Director General of the State Hydraulic Works
State Hydraulic Works (Turkey)
The State Hydraulic Works is a state agency organized under the Ministry of Environment and Forestry of Turkey responsible for the utilization of country's all water resources...
(DSİ). In this capacity, Demirel was to supervise the construction of a multitude of dams, power plants, and irrigation facilities.
After the 1960 coup d'état, he was drafted to the Turkish Army
Turkish Army
The Turkish Army or Turkish Land Forces is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The modern history of the army began with its formation after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire...
for compulsory military service. Upon completion of his military service, he worked as a freelance engineer and a representative of Morrison Construction, a U.S. company. During this period, he also worked as a part-time lecturer of hydraulic engineering
Hydraulic engineering
This article is about civil engineering. For the mechanical engineering discipline see Hydraulic machineryHydraulic engineering as a sub-discipline of civil engineering is concerned with the flow and conveyance of fluids, principally water and sewage. One feature of these systems is the extensive...
at the Middle East Technical University
Middle East Technical University
Middle East Technical University is a public technical university located in Ankara, Turkey...
(ODTÜ) 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....
.
Political career
His political career started with his election to the executive board of the Justice PartyJustice Party (Turkey)
The Justice Party was a Turkish political party prominent in the 1960s and 1970s. A descendant of the Democrat Party, the AP was dominated by Süleyman Demirel, who served six times as prime minister, and was in office at the time of the military coup on September 12, 1980...
founded by the former General Ragıp Gümüşpala, as directed by the Head of State Cemal Gürsel
Cemal Gürsel
Cemal Gürsel , was a Turkish army officer, and the fourth President of Turkey.- Early life :He was born in the city of Erzurum to the Turkish parents as the son of an Ottoman Army officer, Abidin Bey, the grandson of Ibrahim and the great-grandson of Haci Ahmad...
as the replacement of the Democrat Party that was closed after the military coup of 27 May 1960. Journalist and MP Cihat Baban claims in The Gallery of Politics (Politika Galerisi), that Cemal Gürsel told him:
Demirel was elected Chairman at the second grand party convention on 28 November 1964. He facilitated the formation of a coalition government
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
that ruled between February and October 1965 under the premiership of Suat Hayri Ürgüplü
Suat Hayri Ürgüplü
Ali Suat Hayri Ürgüplü was a Turkish political figure. He served a brief term as prime minister of Turkey in 1965.-Biography:...
, in which he served as Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some counties, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, but is significantly different, though both...
. Under his leadership, the AP won an unprecedented majority of the votes in the elections of 10 October 1965 and formed a majority government
Majority government
A majority government is when the governing party has an absolute majority of seats in the legislature or parliament in a parliamentary system. This is as opposed to a minority government, where even the largest party wins only a plurality of seats and thus must constantly bargain for support from...
. Demirel thus became the youngest-ever Prime Minister in Turkish history, and the second democratically-elected Prime Minister after Adnan Menderes
Adnan Menderes
Adnan Menderes was the first democratically elected Turkish Prime Minister between 1950–1960. He was one of the founders of the Democratic Party in 1946, the fourth legal opposition party of Turkey. He was hanged by the military junta after the 1960 coup d'état, along with two other cabinet...
who had won elections three times in the 1950s, but was executed after a military coup d'état in 1960.
As deputy from Isparta, Demirel became Turkey’s 12th Prime Minister and ruled the country for four years. In the next elections on 10 October 1969, his party was the sole winner by a landslide once again. He resigned after the military memorandum of 12 March 1971. He was not able to win the elections that were held in 1973 and 1977; however, between 1971 and 1980, he served as Prime Minister for three more times, albeit with coalition partners, during 1975-1977, 1977–1978, and 1979–1980, respectively.
After the 1980 coup
Following the coup d'état of 12 September 1980, headed by Kenan EvrenKenan Evren
Ahmet Kenan Evren was the seventh President of Turkey; a post he assumed by leading the 1980 military coup. He was also the last president to be born in the Ottoman Empire.- Biography :...
, he was banned from involvement in active politics for ten years. In 1986, however, Demirel launched a national campaign for the lifting of the bans and initiated a national referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
on the issue.
The 6 September 1987 referendum allowed him to return to active politics. Only 18 days later, Demirel was elected Chairman at the extraordinary convention of the True Path Party
True Path Party
The Democratic Party , abbreviated to DP, is a centre-right, conservative Turkish political party, established by Suleyman Demirel in 1983 as the Right Path Party...
(DYP) that replaced the Adalet Partisi. He was re-elected Deputy of Isparta
Isparta
Isparta is a city in western Turkey and the provincial capital of the Isparta Province. The city's population is 222,556 and elevation from sea level is 1035 m. Another name of the city is "City of Roses"....
at the elections of 29 November 1987.
Following the elections of 20 October 1991, Demirel became Prime Minister once again in a coalition government with the Social Democratic People's Party
Social Democratic People's Party (Turkey)
The current Social Democratic People's Party or SHP is a Turkish left social-democratic political party established in 2002 by Murat Karayalçın, former Ankara Metropolitan Mayor and Foreign Minister ....
.
After the sudden death of President Turgut Özal
Turgut Özal
Halil Turgut Özal was Prime Minister of Turkey and President of Turkey . As Prime Minister, he transformed the economy of Turkey by paving the way for the privatization of many state enterprises.-Early life and career:...
, he became the ninth President
Turkish presidential election, 1993
The 1993 Turkish presidential election refers the election to choose the country's ninth president, to succeed Turgut Özal who had recently died. The candidate of DYP was Süleyman Demirel who was also supported by SHP. In the first and second rounds, the ruling party DYP was unsuccessful in...
on 16 May 1993, elected by 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...
.
On 10 March 1995, he became aware of a coup attempt against President Heydar Aliyev
Heydar Aliyev
Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev , also spelled as Heidar Aliev, Geidar Aliev, Haydar Aliyev, Geydar Aliyev was the third President of Azerbaijan for the New Azerbaijan Party from June 1993 to October 2003, when his son Ilham Aliyev succeeded him.From 1969 till 1982, Aliyev was also the leader of Soviet...
of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
(prepared by his predecessor Ebulfeyz Elçibey) with the assistance of the Turkish intelligence
National Intelligence Organization
The National Intelligence Organization is the governmental intelligence organization of Turkey. It was established in 1965 to replace the National Security Service....
and security agencies, and warned Aliyev.
Demirel was able to keep his position as President when he collaborated with the military during the 1997 "post-modern coup" in Turkey. He served as President until 16 May 2000, for the constitutional term of seven years.
During his service for the development and industrialization of the country as a director general at the age of 30, and a political party chairman and the youngest Turkish prime minister at the age of 40, his overall tenure was shorter than only İsmet İnönü
Ismet Inönü
Mustafa İsmet İnönü was a Turkish Army General, Prime Minister and the second President of Turkey. In 1938, the Republican People's Party gave him the title of "Milli Şef" .-Family and early life:...
's.
Following retirement from politics, Demirel has frequently been a panelist and speaker at several universities in Turkey.
Legacy
The Süleyman Demirel Airport and Süleyman Demirel UniversitySüleyman Demirel University
Süleyman Demirel University is a public university located in Isparta, Turkey. Established in 1992, the university, with around 55.000 students, is the second largest academic institution in Turkey. SDU is known for its programs in agricultural research, medicine, engineering, and business sciences...
, both of which are in Isparta
Isparta
Isparta is a city in western Turkey and the provincial capital of the Isparta Province. The city's population is 222,556 and elevation from sea level is 1035 m. Another name of the city is "City of Roses"....
are named after him. So are the Süleyman Demirel Stadium in Antalya
Antalya
Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. With a population 1,001,318 as of 2010. It is the eighth most populous city in Turkey and country's biggest international sea resort.- History :...
and the Süleyman Demirel Medical Centre of the Atatürk University in Erzurum
Erzurum
Erzurum is a city in Turkey. It is the largest city, the capital of Erzurum Province. The city is situated 1757 meters above sea level. Erzurum had a population of 361,235 in the 2000 census. .Erzurum, known as "The Rock" in NATO code, served as NATO's southeastern-most air force post during the...
. There are also two important main street
Main Street
Main Street is the metonym for a generic street name of the primary retail street of a village, town, or small city in many parts of the world...
s named after him: one in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
and the other in Muğla
Mugla
Muğla is a city in south-western Turkey. It is the center of the district the same name, as well as of Muğla Province, which stretches along Turkey´s Aegean coast. Muğla center is situated inland at an altitude of 660 m and lies at a distance of about from the nearest seacoast in the Gulf of...
.
Awards
Demirel was awarded with Istiglal OrderIstiglal Order
Istiglal Order , is an Azerbaijani award presented by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Istiglal means Sovereignty in Azerbaijani.-History and status:...
for his contributions to development of Azerbaijan–Turkey relations and constructive position on Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, lying between Lower Karabakh and Zangezur and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains...
conflict, creation of unity among Turkic states by President of Azerbaijan
President of Azerbaijan
The country of Azerbaijan is a presidential republic, with the President of Azerbaijan as the head of state, and the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan as head of government...
Heydar Aliyev
Heydar Aliyev
Heydar Alirza oglu Aliyev , also spelled as Heidar Aliev, Geidar Aliev, Haydar Aliyev, Geydar Aliyev was the third President of Azerbaijan for the New Azerbaijan Party from June 1993 to October 2003, when his son Ilham Aliyev succeeded him.From 1969 till 1982, Aliyev was also the leader of Soviet...
on 12 June 1999. He is also a Collar of the Estonian Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana was instituted in 1995 to honour the independence of the Estonian state. The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana is bestowed upon the President of the Republic. Presidents of the Republic who have ceased to hold office shall keep the Order of the Cross of...
, a recipient of the Polish Order of the White Eagle (1993) and a Knight Grand Cross of the Croatian Grand Order of King Tomislav
Grand Order of King Tomislav
The Grand Order of King Tomislav , or more fully the Grand Order of King Tomislav with Sash and Great Morning Star , is the highest state order of the Republic of Croatia...
.
In popular culture
Demirel is nicknamed Baba (The Father) or Çoban Sülü (The Shepherd Sülü (Süleyman)) and humorously Spartacus, after his native city IspartaIsparta
Isparta is a city in western Turkey and the provincial capital of the Isparta Province. The city's population is 222,556 and elevation from sea level is 1035 m. Another name of the city is "City of Roses"....
. His fedora hat is almost as famous as he is.
Also, whenever there is political distress, Turkish media or his followers call on him with the words "Kurtar bizi baba". ( Father, save us.)
He is well known for his phrases, such as "Dün dündür, bugün bugündür" ( Yesterday is yesterday, today is today). He usually says this phrase when he changes his stand on a subject. "Benzin vardı da biz mi içtik?" ( Did we drink the gasoline, as if there was any?) He explains that he is not responsible for the gas shortages in '70s.