Ufuk Uras
Encyclopedia
Mehmet Ufuk Uras is a Turkish
libertarian socialist politician and economist
who became the first socialist candidate elected to the Turkish parliament
since 1960s in 2007. He graduated from the Faculty of Economics of Istanbul University
and began working as an academician at the same institution.
A former leader of the university lecturer's union, he was elected the chairman of Freedom and Solidarity Party
in 1996. Uras resigned from the leadership after the 2002 general election
. He became the party chairman again in 2007. He ran a successful campaign as an "common candidate of the Left", standing on the independents' ticket, backed by Kurdish-based Democratic Society Party
and several left-wing, environmentalist and pro-peace groups in the 2007 general election
, polling 81 486 votes, that is approximately 4 per cent of the votes in his constituency. , Uras is serving as an MP representing Anatolian side of İstanbul
.
He was removed from his post in 2009 as the party leader, when his opponent Hayri Kozanoğlu was elected. He resigned from Freedom and Solidarity Party in 19 June 2009.
After the DTP party was dissolved in December 2009 and two of its MPs were banned from politics for five years, he joined forces with the remaining Kurdish MPs in the parliament, giving them the twenty seats necessary to retain their position as a parliamentary party.
Uras is married to ballet
dancer and choreographer Zeynep Tanbay.
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...
libertarian socialist politician and economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
who became the first socialist candidate elected to the Turkish parliament
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...
since 1960s in 2007. He graduated from the Faculty of Economics of 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...
and began working as an academician at the same institution.
A former leader of the university lecturer's union, he was elected the chairman of Freedom and Solidarity Party
Freedom and Solidarity Party
Freedom and Solidarity Party is a left-wing party in Turkey. The party has had limited electoral success, although it controls a number of town halls and is influential in some unions of public employees...
in 1996. Uras resigned from the leadership after the 2002 general election
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 became the party chairman again in 2007. He ran a successful campaign as an "common candidate of the Left", standing on the independents' ticket, backed by Kurdish-based Democratic Society Party
Democratic Society Party
The Democratic Society Party was a Kurdish Kurdish nationalist political party in Turkey. The party considered itself social democratic, and had observer status in the Socialist International. It was considered to be the successor of the Democratic People's Party...
and several left-wing, environmentalist and pro-peace groups in the 2007 general election
Turkish general election, 2007
Turkey's 16th general election was held on July 22, 2007 and resulted in a resounding victory for the incumbent Justice and Development Party...
, polling 81 486 votes, that is approximately 4 per cent of the votes in his constituency. , Uras is serving as an MP representing Anatolian side of İstanbul
Istanbul Province
Istanbul Province is a province located in north-west Turkey. It has an area of 5,196 km² and a population of 13,255,685. The population was 10,018,735 in 2000. It is surrounded by the provinces of Tekirdağ to the west, Kocaeli to the east, the Black Sea to the northern part and the Sea of...
.
He was removed from his post in 2009 as the party leader, when his opponent Hayri Kozanoğlu was elected. He resigned from Freedom and Solidarity Party in 19 June 2009.
After the DTP party was dissolved in December 2009 and two of its MPs were banned from politics for five years, he joined forces with the remaining Kurdish MPs in the parliament, giving them the twenty seats necessary to retain their position as a parliamentary party.
Uras is married to ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
dancer and choreographer Zeynep Tanbay.
Books
- ÖDP Söyleşileri, 1999, Istanbul: Alan. ISBN 975-7414-77-8
- Başka Bir Siyaset Mümkün, 2003, Istanbul: İthaki. ISBN 975-8725-79-3
- İdeolojilerin Sonu mu?, 2004, Istanbul: Çiviyazıları. ISBN 975-8663-66-6
- Sezgiciliğin Sonu mu?, 2005, Istanbul: Devin. ISBN 975-6472-16-2
- Siyaset Yazıları, 2005, Istanbul: Alan. ISBN 975-7414-95-6
- Alternatif Siyaset Arayışları, 2005, Istanbul: İthaki. ISBN 975-273-148-1