Devlet Bahçeli

Devlet Bahçeli
MP
Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey
In office
28 May 1999 – 18 November 2002
Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit
Served with Hüsamettin Özkan
Şükrü Sina Gürel
Cumhur Ersümer
Mesut Yılmaz
Preceded by Hikmet Uluğbay
Succeeded by Abdüllatif Şener
Leader of the Nationalist Movement Party
Assumed office
6 July 1997
Preceded by Alparslan Türkeş
Member of the Grand National Assembly
Assumed office
22 July 2007
Constituency Osmaniye (2007, 2011, June 2015)
In office
19 April 1999 – 18 November 2002
Constituency Osmaniye (1999)
Personal details
Born (1948-01-01) January 1, 1948
Bahçe, Osmaniye, Turkey
Political party Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)
Alma mater Gazi University
Occupation Politician
Profession Economist, academic
Religion Sunni Islam
Signature

Devlet Bahçeli (born 1 January 1948) is a Turkish politician who has been the chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) since 6 July 1997.[1]

An academic in economics at Gazi University in Ankara until 1987, he served as Deputy Prime Minister in the coalition government of Bülent Ecevit (1999–2002). Elected in the province of Osmaniye,[2] he has been an MP in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey since 22 July 2007.[3]

Education and work

Born in the rural district of Bahçe in the province of Osmaniye, Bahçeli attended primary school there. He moved to Istanbul for his secondary education. Bahçeli received his higher education from the scientific academy in Ankara and his doctorate from Gazi University in Ankara. Bahçeli served as a lecturer for economics at Gazi University before entering political life in 1987.

Political career

In 1987, Devlet Bahçeli became a member of the board of the Nationalist Task Party (MÇP), which was officially renamed the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) during a congress on 24 January 1993. Following the death on 5 April 1997 of the founder and leader, Alparslan Türkeş, he became on 6 July 1997 the second chairman of the MHP. From 1999 to 2002, Bahçeli served as a deputy prime minister in the coalition government (DSP-ANAP-MHP) of Bülent Ecevit.

Elections

In the 2007 general elections, Devlet Bahçeli led the MHP list in the province of Osmaniye. His parliamentary list polled 44.90% (99,565 votes) and won two of the four provincial seats.[4]

In the 2011 general elections, he led the MHP list in the province of Osmaniye. His parliamentary list polled 41.22% (110,708 votes) and won two of the four provincial seats.[5]

Controversies

In 2015 a Uighur staffed, Turkish owned Chinese restaurant was assaulted by Turkish nationalists; they also attacked the Dutch consulate, mistaking it for the Russian consulate [6][7] and assaulted several South Korean tourists, believing them to be Chinese. Devlet Bahçeli said that the attacks by MHP affiliated Turkish youth on South Korean tourists was "understandable", telling the Turkish news paper Hürriyet that: "What feature differentiates a Korean from a Chinese? They see that they both have slanted eyes. How can they tell the difference?".[8] Another translation of his remarks was : "What is the difference between a Korean and a Chinese anyway? They both have slitty eyes. Does it make any difference?"[9][10]

References

  1. ↑ "AK Party ratchets up rhetoric on bilingual and autonomy debate". Today's Zaman. 24 December 2010. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  2. ↑ "24. Dönem Milletvekilleri Listesi (Osmaniye)" (in Turkish). Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  3. ↑ "Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi 24. Dönem Milletvekili (Devlet Bahçeli/Osmaniye)" (in Turkish). Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  4. ↑ "Seçimler: 22 Temmuz 2007 XXIII. Dönem Milletvekili Genel Seçimi : Seçim Çevreleri Toplu Sonuçları (Osmaniye ili seçim çevresi)" (in Turkish). Yüksek Seçim Kurulu Baskanlıgınca. 22 July 2007. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  5. ↑ "Osmaniye ili seçim çevresi" (PDF) (in Turkish). Yüksek Seçim Kurulu Baskanlıgınca. 22 June 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  6. ↑ "Demonstrators throw eggs at Dutch consulate in protest against Russia". Today's Zaman. Istanbul. November 21, 2015, Saturday/ 11:12:45. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ↑ http://www.newsunited.com/demonstrators-throw-eggs-at-dutch-news/19852180/
  8. ↑ Lefevre, Amy Sawitta; Dikmen, Yesim (Jul 9, 2015). "Thai PM defends decision to send Uighurs back to China". Reuters.
  9. ↑ AFP/ec (9 Jul 2015). "Outrage after Turkish politician excuses attack on 'slitty-eyed' tourists". Channel NewsAsia. ISTANBUL.
  10. ↑ Agence France Presse (Jul 8, 2015). "Outrage after Turkish politician excuses attack on 'slitty-eyed' tourists". The Daily Star.
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