biography
pronunciation:
[demirel]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1924– )
|
| biography:
| Turkish prime minister (1965–71, 1975–7, 1977–8, 1979–80, 1991–3), and president (1993–2000), born in Islam Kömy, SW Turkey. He qualified as an engineer at Istanbul Technical University, and worked on hydro-electric schemes in the USA and Turkey before entering politics. In 1964 he became president of the centrist Justice Party, now subsumed in the True Path Party. He served several terms as prime minister, until a military coup in 1980 resulted in a ban on his political activity. His presidency saw Turkey join the European Union customs union and sign a treaty with Israel. |
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