Kadir Topbaş
Kadir Topbaş | |
|---|---|
| 31st Mayor of Istanbul | |
| Assumed office 28 March 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Ali Müfit Gürtuna |
| Mayor of Beyoğlu | |
| In office 18 April 1999 – 28 March 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Nusret Bayraktar |
| Succeeded by | Ahmet Misbah Demircan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kadir Topbaş January 8, 1945 Yusufeli, Artvin, Turkey |
| Died | Kadir Topbaş |
| Resting place | Kadir Topbaş |
| Political party | Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (AKP) |
| Parent |
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| Residence(s) | Beyoğlu, Istanbul |
| Alma mater | Istanbul University (B.S.) Istanbul University (Architecture) Istanbul University (Ph.D.) |
Kadir Topbaş (born January 8, 1945 in Yusufeli, Artvin) is a Turkish architect, right-wing regional politician and the current mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality in Turkey.
Biography
He was born on January 8, 1945 in Altıparmak village of Yusufeli district in Artvin Province, Turkey. He is of Georgian descent by his family.[1] Kadir Topbaş moved in 1946 with his family to Istanbul. He earned a PhD in architectural history from Istanbul University following his education of theology in 1972 and architecture in 1974. After working as preacher in Edirne, teacher and freelance architect in İstanbul, he served between 1994 and 1998 as advisor to mayor Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the restoration and decoration of palaces and other historical buildings in Istanbul.
Political career
He entered politics as member of the religious oriented Milli Selamet Partisi (MSP) and became mayor of Beyoğlu district in İstanbul, where he lives. Later on, Topbaş ran twice for the deputy of Artvin province in the parliament, first in 1977 from the MSP and then in 1987 from Refah Partisi (RP) without success. In 1999, he was elected mayor of Beyoğlu district from the Fazilet Partisi (FP). In the 2004 regional elections, Kadir Topbaş ran for the post of mayor of İstanbul from the Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (AKP) and won. He is mayor of Istanbul since March 28, 2004. In November 2007 he became co-president of United Cities and Local Governments and was longlisted for the 2008 World Mayor award. After the Turkish general local elections held on March 29, 2009 Kadir Topbaş was reelected as the mayor of İstanbul metropolitan area.
In 2009 he was appointed President of the Union of Municipalities of Turkey.
He is married and has two sons and a daughter.