Kadir Topbaş

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Kadir Topbaş (born January 8, 1945) is a Turkish architect, right-wing regional politician and the current mayor of Istanbul Province in Turkey.

[edit] Biography

He was born on January 8, 1945 in Altıparmak village of Yusufeli district in Artvin Province, Turkey. 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.

[edit] Political career

He entered politics as member of the religious oriented Milli Selamet Partisi (MSP) and became deputy 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 Beyoğle 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 is longlisted for the 2008 World Mayor award.

He is married and has two sons and a daughter.

[edit] External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Ali Müfit Gürtuna
Mayor of İstanbul
2004–present
Succeeded by
incumbent
Persondata
NAME Topbaş, Kadir
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Mayor of İstanbul Province
DATE OF BIRTH January 8, 1945
PLACE OF BIRTH Yusufeli, Artvin Province, Turkey
DATE OF DEATH living
PLACE OF DEATH
Languages