Bülent Ecevit

Bülent Ecevit (1925–2006) was a Turkish statesman, journalist, poet, and writer who shaped the country’s social-democratic left. After entering parliament for the Republican People’s Party in 1957 and serving as labour minister, he became party leader in 1972 and first served as prime minister in 1974. He later led the Democratic Left Party and returned to the premiership in 1999, heading a coalition government until 2002.