Süleyman Soylu

Süleyman Soylu MP
Minister of Labour and Social Security
Incumbent
Assumed office 24 November 2015
Prime Minister	Ahmet Davutoğlu
Preceded by	Ahmet Erdem
Deputy Leader of the Justice and Development Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 30 September 2012
Leader	Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Ahmet Davutoğlu
Member of the Grand National Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 June 2015
Constituency	Trabzon (June 2015, Nov 2015)
Leader of the Democrat Party
In office 6 January 2008 – 16 May 2009
Preceded by	Mehmet Ağar
Succeeded by	Hüsamettin Cindoruk
Personal details
Born	21 November 1969 İstanbul, Turkey
Nationality	Turkish
Political party	True Path Party (1987-2002) Democrat (2007-09) Justice and Development Party (2011-present)
Cabinet	64th

Süleyman Soylu (born November 21, 1969) is a Turkish politician. He is a deputy chairman of the Justice and Development Party who currently serves as the Minister of Labour and Social Security since 24 November 2015. He is a former leader of the Democrat Party (DP).

Early life and business career

Süleyman Soylu was born in Istanbul on 21 November 1969. He graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Management. He started business career in Istanbul Stock Exchange. Now, he continues his business career with insurance company which was founded by himself; also his political career continues at the same time.

Political career

Democrat Party

He started politics at Democrat Party Istanbul Youth Branch in 1987. He took the positions of member of board of directorates, and chairman of the organization at youth branch of Democrat Party Istanbul.

In 1995, he was elected to the board of directorates in Gaziosmanpaşa branch, and with the congress held on 17 July 1995, he was elected as the chairman of the district at the age of 25. On 18 April 1999, he announced his candidacy for the mayor of Gaziosmanpaşa municipality which is district of Istanbul.

He became Democrat Party Istanbul Chairman on 29 April 1999 which makes him the youngest chairman in the Turkey at that time. He resigned from the presidency, which lasted 3.5 years, to run for the elections to become a Member of the Parliament of Turkey in 2002. Süleyman Soylu was elected for party leadership with the 4th Extraordinary Congress of Democrat Party on 6 January 2008. After being reelected for the leadership at the 9th Statutory Congress on 15 November 2008, he led his party for 29 March 2009 local elections. On 16 May 2009, at the congress, which took place according to his will, his party leadership ended.^[1]

Afterwards, he participated in many conferences and panels upon invitations coming from various universities and civil societies all over the country.

Süleyman Soylu realized the vital importance of the change of constitution package, which was opened for referendum of 12 September 2010 for the transition and democratization of Turkey, organized a series of seminars with the title of “Democracy meetings”, and together with his friends by travelling all around Turkey, shared grounds for voting “yes”. Following these activities, he was expelled from his party.^[2]

Justice and Development Party

Süleyman Soylu was invited into active politics Justice and Development Party by Chairman and the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and joined the Party on 5 September 2012.^[3] On 30 September 2012, with the 4th Statutory General Congress of AK Party, he was elected for the Central Board of Executives, and became Deputy Chairman responsible for R&D Department.

He is currently serving as the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of the 64th government of the Republic of Turkey, formed on 24 November 2015

References

1. "DP seeks new leader after Soylu announces resignation". Today's Zaman. 4 April 2009. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
2. "Democrat Party to expel former leader, yea-sayer Soylu". Today's Zaman. 9 August 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
3. "Former Democrat Party leader joins ruling AK Party". Today's Zaman. 5 September 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.