Özal, Turgut (1927–1993)

Turgut Özal was a politician and a statesman, prime minister of the 45th and 46th governments, and later the 8th president of the Republic of Turkey. He died while in office. Özal founded the Motherland Party (Anavatan Partisi, ANAP) on May 20, 1983, and won the elections on November 6, 1983, after a political campaign completely regulated by the National Security Council. In the early elections in 1987, aided by an amendment in the election law, ANAP won more seats with fewer votes, and Özal was reelected. In November 1989 he became president of the republic.

As the creator and practitioner of the economic liberalization program of January 24, 1980, which made its mark on the decade, Özal pioneered the establishment of liberal politics in Turkey. ...