Kasım Gülek

Kasım Gülek (1905 – 1996) was a prominent Turkish statesman credited with being instrumental in entrenching democracy in Turkey by taking politics to the masses.

Biography

He was born and lived in Adana, Adana Vilayet, southern Turkey, until he went away to school in Istanbul, where he studied respectively at Galatasaray High School and Robert College. He then went on to study at Ecole des Sciences Politiques in Paris, France followed by Columbia University in New York City, New York, USA, where he received his PhD in Economics. After undertaking post doctorate studies at Cambridge in the United Kingdom and Berlin University as a fellow of the Rockefeller Foundation, he returned to his country.

Political career

After receiving a letter praising Kasım Gülek from the Dean of Columbia University, Atatürk, founder of modern Turkey, called upon him and offered him to become a Member of Parliament. Throughout his career, he held various ministerial positions including Minister of Public Works, Minister of Communications, Transport Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister.

He was a leading member of Atatürk's party, the Republican People's Party (CHP). Early in 1947 he was one of the leaders of group of thirty-five deputies who revolted in the party caucus urging reforms and liberalizations. The episode was called the "Rebellion of 35", but even though it was unsuccessful, Gülek and three other insurgents were still permitted to join the cabinet afterwards.

He is best remembered for his role as the Secretary General of the Republican People's Party from 1950 until 1959, a position to which he was elected seven consecutive times with an overwhelming majority of the vote. During his time as Secretary General, he resurrected the crushed CHP by travelling to the all corners of Turkey visiting almost every village in the country. He later served as a member of the Constituent Assembly and as a Senator from Adana.

He also held several international positions such as Chairman of the UN Commission on Korea, President of the North Atlantic Assembly, Governor of the Atlantic Institute, Vice-President of NATO Parliamentarians Conference and Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

References

• Afad.org.tr - Biography of Kasım Gülek (Turkish)

External links

• Kasım Gülek official website

Preceded by Hilmi Uran

Secretary general of the Republican People's Party 1950 - 1959

Succeeded by İsmail Rüştü Aksal