Demirel, Süleyman (1924- )

Turkish politician, prime minister seven times and president 1993-2000. Leader from 1964 to 1980 of the Justice Party, and from 1987 of its successor, the True Path Party, he was prime minister 1965-71, 1975-77, 1977-78, 1979-80, and 1991-93. He favoured links with the West, full membership of the European Union, and foreign investment in Turkish industry.

A graduate in civil engineering, he worked as an engineer on dam construction in the 1950s and early 1960s and as a lecturer in hydraulic engineering, before entering politics in 1964. He became Turkey's youngest-ever prime minister in 1965, but resigned in March 1971 after the military had demanded firmer government to control mounting public unrest. After the 1980 military coup, he was banned from active politics for 10 years, but successfully campaigned for a referendum (held in 1987) to lift the bans on him and other democratic politicians and parties.