Suleyman Demirel

Süleyman Demirel was a Turkish politician, engineer, and statesman who served as the 9th President of Turkey from 1993 to 2000. He previously served as the Prime Minister of Turkey seven times between the years 1965 and 1993. He was the leader of the Justice Party (AP) from 1964 to 1980 and the leader of the True Path Party (DYP) from 1987 to 1993. He was a dominant figure in Turkish politics for decades, surviving several military coups and political crises. He was known for his pragmatic and flexible approach to politics, as well as his village background and "man of the people" image. He initiated many development projects for the Turkish peasantry, improved Turkey's ties with its NATO allies, and pursued a policy of economic growth. He also supported Turkey's bid to join the European Union and advocated for a peaceful resolution of the Kurdish issue. He was often nicknamed Baba (The Father) or Çoban Sülü (Sülü the Shepherd) by his supporters. He died in 2015 at the age of 90 from a respiratory tract infection. He was buried in his native village of İslamköy, where he had built a museum and a library.