Köksal Toptan
Encyclopedia
Köksal Toptan is a Turkish
lawyer, politician and a member of the Justice and Development Party
. He earlier served as government minister in three cabinets. He was the speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
between August 2007 and August 2009.
He was educated in the Faculty of Law at Istanbul University
. He worked as a lawyer following his graduation. Köksal Toptan entered politics first at regional level in Zonguldak
. Later, he was elected to the parliament as Deputy of Zonguldak and Bartın
. He served as Minister of State in the 6th Süleyman Demirel
cabinet (November 12, 1979 - September 12, 1980), as Minister of National Education in the 7th Demirel cabinet (June 23, 1991 - June 25, 1993) and then as Minister of Culture in the 2nd Tansu Çiller
cabinet (October 5, 1995 - October 30, 1995). During the government of Justice and Development Party
(AK Party), he was the chairman of the parliament commission of justice between 2003-2007.
Elected as deputy of Zonguldak from the AK Party again in 2007, he was nominated by his party for the post of Speaker of the Parliament on August 8, 2007. On August 9, 2007, Köksal Toptan was elected 23rd Speaker of the parliament, supported also by the opposition parties.
Köksal Toptan is married with three children.
(DYP), then led by Hüsamettin Cindoruk
, and entered Parliament for a second time as a Zonguldak
deputy in the interim elections held on September 28, 1986. In the 1991 elections, he became a deputy from Bartın
and then was appointed minister of education. During his term, he introduced innovative projects such as open high schools and student transfers from the Turkic republics
.
After Demirel was elected president in 1993, he competed with Tansu Çiller
for leadership of the DYP but was defeated and resigned from his post as education minister. In 1995, he served as culture minister and was re-elected as a Bartın deputy in the general elections held in December of that year
. In the 1999 general elections
, Toptan was unable to enter Parliament but began to work as the chairman of a foundation promoting Turkey.
Before the 2002 elections
, he was invited by Erdoğan
to the AK Party, was elected as a deputy from Zonguldak and was appointed chairman of the parliamentary Justice Commission, where he helped draft the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK). Before Gül
was first nominated for the presidency, his name was frequently mentioned as a possible candidate for that post. He was hospitalized at the hour when Gül’s candidacy was announced and it was rumored backstage that Toptan’s illness could be attributed to his disappointment about not being nominated.
Toptan's wife is a former judge with the Supreme Court of Appeals. During his term as education minister, Toptan conducted appreciable work related to disabilities and encouraged the opening of numerous rehabilitation centers. Toptan’s wife, Saime Toptan, is the chairwoman of the Turkish Training and Solidarity Foundation for the Disabled.
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
lawyer, politician and a member of the Justice and Development Party
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...
. He earlier served as government minister in three cabinets. He was the speaker of 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...
between August 2007 and August 2009.
He was educated in the Faculty of Law at Istanbul University
Istanbul University
Istanbul University is a Turkish university located in Istanbul. The main campus is adjacent to Beyazıt Square.- Synopsis :A madrasa, a religious school, was established sometime in the 15th century after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. An institution of higher education named the...
. He worked as a lawyer following his graduation. Köksal Toptan entered politics first at regional level in Zonguldak
Zonguldak
Zonguldak is a city and the capital of Zonguldak Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. Its population, according to the 2009 census, was 108,792. It is an important port on the Black Sea because of the coal mining in Zonguldak Province...
. Later, he was elected to the parliament as Deputy of Zonguldak and Bartın
Bartin
-Culture:The city hosts strawberry festivals in spring. The city also has beaches of good quality.-External links:* *...
. He served as Minister of State in the 6th 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...
cabinet (November 12, 1979 - September 12, 1980), as Minister of National Education in the 7th Demirel cabinet (June 23, 1991 - June 25, 1993) and then as Minister of Culture in the 2nd Tansu Çiller
Tansu Çiller
Tansu Penbe Çiller is a Turkish economist and politician. She was Turkey's first and only female Prime Minister.- Early career :She is the daughter of a Turkish governor of Bilecik province during the 1950s. She graduated from the School of Economics at Robert College after finishing the American...
cabinet (October 5, 1995 - October 30, 1995). During the government of Justice and Development Party
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...
(AK Party), he was the chairman of the parliament commission of justice between 2003-2007.
Elected as deputy of Zonguldak from the AK Party again in 2007, he was nominated by his party for the post of Speaker of the Parliament on August 8, 2007. On August 9, 2007, Köksal Toptan was elected 23rd Speaker of the parliament, supported also by the opposition parties.
Köksal Toptan is married with three children.
Extended biography
On November 12, 1979, he was appointed as a state minister in the Süleyman Demirel government, a post he held until the military coup of September 12, 1980. Banned from politics, Toptan started to work as a lawyer and even represented Demirel, who was also banned from political activity. He became famous winning all the cases in which he defended Demirel. In 1983, he took an active role in the establishment of the True Path PartyTrue 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), then led by Hüsamettin Cindoruk
Hüsamettin Cindoruk
Hüsamettin Cindoruk is a Turkish politician and the 17th Speaker of the Parliament of Turkey between 1991-1995. He has also been the leader of two political parties, notably of the True Path Party.-Biography:...
, and entered Parliament for a second time as a Zonguldak
Zonguldak
Zonguldak is a city and the capital of Zonguldak Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. Its population, according to the 2009 census, was 108,792. It is an important port on the Black Sea because of the coal mining in Zonguldak Province...
deputy in the interim elections held on September 28, 1986. In the 1991 elections, he became a deputy from Bartın
Bartin
-Culture:The city hosts strawberry festivals in spring. The city also has beaches of good quality.-External links:* *...
and then was appointed minister of education. During his term, he introduced innovative projects such as open high schools and student transfers from the Turkic republics
Turkic peoples
The Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds...
.
After Demirel was elected president in 1993, he competed with Tansu Çiller
Tansu Çiller
Tansu Penbe Çiller is a Turkish economist and politician. She was Turkey's first and only female Prime Minister.- Early career :She is the daughter of a Turkish governor of Bilecik province during the 1950s. She graduated from the School of Economics at Robert College after finishing the American...
for leadership of the DYP but was defeated and resigned from his post as education minister. In 1995, he served as culture minister and was re-elected as a Bartın deputy in the general elections held in December of that year
Turkish general election, 1995
Turkey's 13th general election was held on Sunday December 24, 1995, triggered after the newly reformed Republican People's Party withdrew from a coalition with the True Path Party...
. In the 1999 general elections
Turkish general election, 1999
Turkey's 14th general election was held on Sunday April 18, 1999 and was the first election in Turkish history to combine local, council and parliamentary elections on the same day. Bülent Ecevit's Democratic Left Party , soaring in popularity after the capture of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan,...
, Toptan was unable to enter Parliament but began to work as the chairman of a foundation promoting Turkey.
Before the 2002 elections
Turkish general election, 2002
Turkey's 15th general election was held on November 3, 2002 following the collapse of the DSP-MHP-ANAP coalition led by Bülent Ecevit. It was won by the Justice and Development Party , led by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, producing a crushing majority in spite of their winning just 34.3% of the national vote...
, he was invited by Erdoğan
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been Prime Minister of Turkey since 2003 and is chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party , which holds a majority of the seats in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Erdoğan served as Mayor of Istanbul from 1994 to 1998. He graduated in 1981 from Marmara...
to the AK Party, was elected as a deputy from Zonguldak and was appointed chairman of the parliamentary Justice Commission, where he helped draft the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK). Before 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....
was first nominated for the presidency, his name was frequently mentioned as a possible candidate for that post. He was hospitalized at the hour when Gül’s candidacy was announced and it was rumored backstage that Toptan’s illness could be attributed to his disappointment about not being nominated.
Toptan's wife is a former judge with the Supreme Court of Appeals. During his term as education minister, Toptan conducted appreciable work related to disabilities and encouraged the opening of numerous rehabilitation centers. Toptan’s wife, Saime Toptan, is the chairwoman of the Turkish Training and Solidarity Foundation for the Disabled.