Köksal Toptan

Köksal Toptan (1943, Rize) is a Turkish politician and served as government minister in three cabinets.He was educated in the Faculty of Law at Istanbul University. He worked as a lawyer following his graduation. Köksal Toptan entered politics first at regional level in Zonguldak. Later, he was elected to the parliament as Deputy of Zonguldak and Bartın. He served as Minister of State in the 6th Süleyman Demirel cabinet (November 12, 1979 - September 12, 1980), as Minister of National Education in the 7th Demirel cabinet (June 23, 1991 - June 25, 1993) and then as Minister of Culture in the 2nd Tansu Çiller cabinet (October 5, 1995 - October 30, 1995). During the government of Justice and Development Party (AKP), he was the chairman of the parliament commission of justice between 2003-2007. [ [http://www.tbmm.gov.tr/develop/owa/milletvekili_sd.bilgi?p_donem=22&p_sicil=3822 Turkish Grand National Assembly official website] tr icon]

Elected as deputy of Zonguldak from the AKP again in 2007, he was nominated by his party for the post of Speaker of the Parliament on August 8, 2007. [ [http://www.sabah.com.tr/haber,7B383D654F984DFCB4B39FC00B6520C3.html Newspaper "Sabah" on August 8, 2007] tr icon] On August 9, 2007, Köksal Toptan was elected 23rd Speaker of the parliament, supported also by the opposition parties.

Köksal Toptan is married with three children.

Extended biography

On November 12, 1979, he was appointed as a state minister in the Süleyman Demirel government, a post he held until the military coup of September 12, 1980. Banned from politics, Toptan started to work as a lawyer and even represented Demirel, who was also banned from political activity. He became famous winning all the cases in which he defended Demirel. In 1983, he took an active role in the establishment of the True Path Party (DYP), then led by Hüsamettin Cindoruk, and entered Parliament for a second time as a Zonguldak deputy in the interim elections held on September 28, 1986. In the 1991 elections, he became a deputy from Bartın and then was appointed minister of education. During his term, he introduced innovative projects such as open high schools and student transfers from the Turkic republics. However, due to a scandal associated with the Primary School Teachers Health and Social Assistance Fund (İLKSAN) during his time as minister, he parted ways with Demirel.

After Demirel was elected president in 1993, he competed with Tansu Çiller for leadership of the DYP but was defeated and resigned from his post as education minister. In 1995, he served as culture minister and was re-elected as a Bartın deputy in the general elections held in December of that year. In the 1999 general elections, Toptan was unable to enter Parliament but began to work as the chairman of a foundation promoting Turkey.

Before the 2002 elections, he was invited by Erdoğan to the AK Party, was elected as a deputy from Zonguldak and was appointed chairman of the parliamentary Justice Commission, where he helped draft the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK). Before Gül was first nominated for the presidency, his name was frequently mentioned as a possible candidate for that post. He was hospitalized at the hour when Gül’s candidacy was announced and it was rumored backstage that Toptan’s illness could be attributed to his disappointment about not being nominated.

Toptan has one child, who suffers from a disability, and his wife is a former judge with the Supreme Court of Appeals. During his term as education minister, Toptan conducted appreciable work related to disabilities and encouraged the opening of numerous rehabilitation centers. Toptan’s wife, Saime Toptan, is the chairwoman of the Turkish Training and Solidarity Foundation for the Disabled.

References

* [http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=119078 Toptan’s election paves way for Gül presidency] , Zaman.