Bülent Ecevit

Profession: Four Term Turkish Prime Minister

Nationality:

Biography: Bülent Ecevit was a Turkish politician, serving as Prime Minister of Turkey four separate times: 1974, 1977, 1978-1979, and 1999-2002. During this time he was affiliated with, and chairman of, the Republican People's Party (1972-1980) and the Democratic Left Party (1987-1988, 1989-2004).

Ecevit first started in Ankara as an Member of Parliament in 1957, then serving as Minister of Labour under İsmet İnönü within the Republican People's Party. This was part of a movement within the party to left-of-center, reaching out to working class voters.

While Ecevit was Prime Minister three times between 1974 and 1979, all of this ended with the 1980 coup. Following the coup, he was banned from politics for ten years; during which time his wife, Rahşan Ecevit, founded the Democratic Left Party.

The Democratic Left Party provided the platform for Ecevit's return to politics in 1987 following the end of the political ban. This paved the way for his fourth term as Prime Minister, which lasted from 1999 to 2002.

Born: May 28, 1925
Birthplace: Istanbul, Turkey

Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Ox
Star Sign: Gemini

Died: November 5, 2006 (aged 81)