Ecevit, Bülent (1925–2006)

Bülent Ecevit was a Turkish journalist, a man of ideas, and a political leader and was also known as a poet. Ecevit had a 45-year political career during which he served as minister of labor (1961 to 1964), deputy prime minister (1997 to 1999), and prime minister (four times between 1973 and 2002). He was jailed three times and banned from politics for 10 years. He is best known for his decision as prime minister to send Turkish troops into Cyprus, for his idea of the “democratic left,” for his stand against “anti-democratic political designs,” and for his financial honesty.

An editor for Ulus, the official journal of the Republican People's Party, Ecevit was elected deputy in 1957. As minister of labor (1961 to 1964), he ...