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Kılıçdaroğlu in 2023

Leader of the Main Opposition
In office 22 May 2010 – 8 November 2023
President	Abdullah Gül Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Prime Minister	Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Ahmet Davutoğlu Binali Yıldırım
Preceded by	Deniz Baykal
Succeeded by	Özgür Özel
Leader of the Republican People's Party
In office 22 May 2010 – 8 November 2023
Preceded by	Deniz Baykal
Succeeded by	Özgür Özel
Vice President of the Socialist International
In office 21 August 2012 – 13 December 2014
President	George Papandreou
Country	Turkey
Preceded by	Deniz Baykal
Succeeded by	Umut Oran
Member of the Grand National Assembly
In office 18 November 2002 – 14 May 2023
Constituency	İstanbul (II) (2002, 2007, 2011) İzmir (II) (Jun 2015, Nov 2015, 2018)

Personal details
Born	Kemal Karabulut (1948-12-17) 17 December 1948 (age 76) Ballıca, Nazımiye, Tunceli, Turkey
Political party	Republican People's Party (after 1999)
Other political affiliations	Democratic Left Party (until 1999)
Spouse	Selvi Gündüz (m. 1974)
Children	3
Residence	Ankara
Alma mater	Ankara Academy of Economics and Commercial Sciences (Gazi University)
Occupation	Politician economist
Profession	Civil servant
Signature
Nicknames	Gandhi Kemal Grey wolf Kemal Democratic uncle of the youth Piro Mr. Kemal

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu (born 17 December 1948) is a Turkish politician. He was the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) from 2010 to 2023. During this time, he was also the Leader of the Main Opposition in Turkey. He served as a member of parliament for Istanbul from 2002 to 2015. Later, he was an MP for İzmir from 2015 to 2023.

Before becoming a politician, Kılıçdaroğlu worked for the government. He was the director-general of the Social Insurance Institution from 1992 to 1999. He became a member of parliament in 2002. In 2009, he ran for Mayor of İstanbul but did not win.

In 2010, after the previous leader resigned, Kılıçdaroğlu became the leader of the CHP. He aimed to make the party more modern. The CHP gained more votes under his leadership. However, they could not defeat the ruling party. Kılıçdaroğlu tried to bring different parties together. This led to the formation of the Nation Alliance. This alliance helped the CHP win important local elections in 2019.

In 2023, he was the main candidate for president against Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He lost the election. After this, he was replaced as the CHP leader in November 2023 by Özgür Özel.

Early Life and Education

Kemal Karabulut was born on 17 December 1948. His birthplace was the village of Ballıca in Tunceli Province, eastern Turkey. He was the fourth of seven children. His father worked as a clerk.

In the 1960s, Kemal's father changed the family's last name from Karabulut to Kılıçdaroğlu. This was because many people in their village had the same last name. His father was among many people who had to leave their homes after a rebellion in the region.

Kemal went to primary and secondary schools in different towns. He later studied economics at the Ankara Academy of Economics and Commercial Sciences. This school is now part of Gazi University. He graduated in 1971. When he was young, he sold goods to earn money.

Professional Career

After finishing university, Kılıçdaroğlu started working for the Ministry of Finance in 1971. He began as a junior account specialist. He was later promoted and sent to France for special training. In 1983, he became a deputy director in the same ministry. He worked closely with the Prime Minister at that time.

In 1991, Kılıçdaroğlu became the director-general of the Social Security Organization for Artisans and Self-Employed. In 1992, he was appointed director-general of the Social Insurance Institution (SSK).

In 1994, a weekly magazine named him "Civil Servant of the Year." Kılıçdaroğlu retired from the Social Insurance Institution in 1999. He also taught at Hacettepe University. He worked on plans for the economy and was a member of the board of İşbank.

Early Political Journey

Becoming a Member of Parliament

Kılıçdaroğlu during a public appearance in Ankara, April 2011

Kılıçdaroğlu left his government job in 1999 to join politics. He first tried to join the Democratic Left Party. He was known as a rising star. However, he did not get on their list of candidates for the 1999 election.

Later, the leader of the CHP, Deniz Baykal, invited him to join his party. Kılıçdaroğlu accepted. After the 2002 general election, he became a member of the parliament for Istanbul. He was re-elected in 2007. He then became a deputy leader for his party's group in parliament.

Kılıçdaroğlu became well-known for finding problems and wrongdoings among some politicians. Two deputy leaders of the ruling party resigned after debates with Kılıçdaroğlu. He also spoke out about a corruption issue involving the Mayor of Ankara.

Running for İstanbul Mayor in 2009

Kılıçdaroğlu was chosen as the CHP's candidate for Mayor of İstanbul in 2009. He promised to run a clean campaign. He said he would work to fix problems for the people of İstanbul. He challenged the current mayor to a public debate. Kılıçdaroğlu lost the election, getting 37% of the votes.

Becoming CHP Leader

Kılıçdaroğlu during a meeting with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, November 2010

The long-time leader of the CHP, Deniz Baykal, resigned in May 2010. Kılıçdaroğlu announced he would run for the leadership position. Many in the party supported him. He received the support of 1,246 out of 1,250 delegates, which was a new record for the CHP.

With so much support, Kılıçdaroğlu was elected as the party chairman. He received 1,189 votes. This happened at a special party meeting in May 2010.

Leading the Opposition

Kılıçdaroğlu became the Leader of the Main Opposition on 22 May 2010. This is because the CHP was the second-largest political party in parliament. Many people thought Kılıçdaroğlu would bring new energy to the CHP.

2010 Changes to the Constitution

Kılıçdaroğlu's first big campaign as CHP leader was about changes to the country's constitution. These changes were put to a public vote, called a referendum, on 12 September 2010. The ruling party wanted to change parts of the justice system.

Kılıçdaroğlu and other opposition parties argued that these changes would give the ruling party too much control. They campaigned for people to vote "no." However, the changes were approved by 57.9% of the voters.

2011 National Election

Kılıçdaroğlu on a visit to Washington D.C., December 2013

The 2011 national election was the first time Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu led the CHP in a general election. He said he would resign if he was not successful. He did not say exactly what "successful" meant.

Over 3,500 people wanted to run for parliament for the CHP. The party held special elections in 29 provinces to choose candidates. Kılıçdaroğlu changed the list of candidates. He included some politicians who used to be in other parties.

The CHP gained more votes and more members of parliament. Kılıçdaroğlu said the CHP was the only party that increased its number of deputies. He noted that the party gained 3.5 million new voters in a short time.

2015 National Elections

Kılıçdaroğlu announcing the CHP manifesto for the June 2015 general election.

The June 2015 national election was the second general election for Kılıçdaroğlu as CHP leader. The party received 24.95% of the votes. They ended up with 132 members of parliament, which was a small decrease. Some people thought CHP voters supported another party to help it get into parliament.

After the election, no party had enough votes to form a government alone. Kılıçdaroğlu tried to form a government with other parties. However, these talks did not work out. A new election was called for November 2015. In this election, the ruling party regained its majority.

2016 Coup Attempt

Kılıçdaroğlu supported the government during the attempted coup in 2016. He spoke out against those who tried to overthrow the government. A few months later, his group was attacked in Artvin.

2017 Constitutional Referendum

After the 2017 Turkish constitutional referendum in 2017, the President's powers were greatly increased. Kılıçdaroğlu and the CHP challenged the results in court. They argued that some votes were counted unfairly. Kılıçdaroğlu said they might take the case to the European Court of Human Rights if needed.

Before the referendum, Kılıçdaroğlu made a "greywolf sign." This sign is used by people who believe in Turkish nationalism. Some thought he did this to attract more nationalist voters.

March for Justice

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu during the March of Justice

In June 2017, a member of parliament from Kılıçdaroğlu's party was sent to prison. Kılıçdaroğlu believed this was unfair. He organized a long walk from Ankara to Istanbul. This walk was called the "Justice March." It was a peaceful protest against what he saw as a lack of fairness in Turkey.

The march lasted 25 days and covered 420 kilometers (about 260 miles). Many different people joined the march. It ended with a large gathering in Istanbul. During the march, participants faced some challenges, like objects being thrown at them.

The President and the ruling party criticized the march. However, a pro-Kurdish party supported it. After the march, Kılıçdaroğlu became known by the nickname "Gandhi Kemal."

2018 and 2019 Elections

In the 2018 elections, Kılıçdaroğlu's CHP formed an alliance with other parties. This alliance was called the Nation Alliance. It was created to challenge the ruling party's alliance.

In the 2019 local elections, Kılıçdaroğlu's alliance continued to work together. They won the mayoral positions in Istanbul and Ankara. These cities had been controlled by the ruling party for 25 years.

2023 Presidential Campaign

Kılıçdaroğlu in his kitchen talking about increased grocery prices, May 2023

Kılıçdaroğlu has long aimed to bring different political groups together. In November 2021, he announced a "Call for Reconciliation." He said the CHP had made mistakes in the past and wanted to make things right.

In February 2022, six opposition party leaders met. They discussed working together for a stronger parliamentary system. This group was called the "Table of Six." They officially announced their alliance.

Kılıçdaroğlu said he was ready to run for president if the Table of Six agreed. The mayors of Istanbul and Ankara supported his idea. On 6 March 2023, he officially announced his candidacy for the 2023 Turkish presidential election. He lost to the current president, Erdoğan. After his loss, he was voted out as party leader on 5 November 2023. Özgür Özel became the new leader.

Political Views

Kılıçdaroğlu is known as a social democrat. This means he believes in social equality and a strong welfare state.

Views on Domestic Issues

Freedom of Speech

In 2016, Kılıçdaroğlu was criticized for statements he made about President Erdoğan. He spoke out when academics were arrested for signing a petition. Kılıçdaroğlu said that academics should be free to express their opinions. He also criticized a court for rejecting a teacher's case. He felt the court was not acting quickly enough.

Kurdish Issues

Kılıçdaroğlu visited the headquarters of a pro-Kurdish party. He said that solutions to Kurdish issues should be found in parliament. He also opposed closing down the pro-Kurdish party. He believes the Kurdish language should be recognized.

Defence Industry

Kılıçdaroğlu has stated that he supports Turkey's drone industry.

Nationalism

Kılıçdaroğlu defines himself as a nationalist. He says his understanding of nationalism is patriotism. He has compared his views to others, saying he is a "real nationalist." He also mentioned that he sent his son to the army, unlike some who pay to avoid military service.

Views on Foreign Policy

NATO

Kılıçdaroğlu believes Turkey should have a stronger role in NATO. He said that Turkey is part of the Western alliance and must follow NATO decisions.

European Union

Kılıçdaroğlu wants Turkey to have closer ties with Western countries. He has sent positive messages to the European Union. He stated that joining the EU is a goal for all six opposition leaders. He promised to make democratic changes in Turkey.

Middle East

Kılıçdaroğlu has said he wants to create a "Peace and Cooperation Organization in the Middle East." He suggested that Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey could be members.

Azerbaijan

Kılıçdaroğlu supports Turkey's help to Azerbaijan. He believes Azerbaijan has the right to defend its land. He said Turkey's support is in line with international laws.

Syria

Kılıçdaroğlu has criticized Turkey's involvement in Syria's internal affairs. He also supports sending Syrian refugees back to Syria. He believes this would help Turkey's economy.

Greece

Kılıçdaroğlu has said that leaders sometimes use conflict to gain votes. He wants to improve relations with Greece. However, he strongly opposes the building up of military forces on Greek Islands.

Russia and Ukraine

Kılıçdaroğlu has approved of Erdoğan's balanced approach to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He also supports the Black Sea Grain Initiative. He promised to continue building a nuclear power plant with Russian help. Later, he became more critical of Russia. He accused Russia of trying to influence the election. He urged Turkey to work more closely with Western countries.

Personal Life

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is married to Selvi Gündüz. They have three children: a son named Kerem and two daughters, Aslı and Zeynep. They also have a granddaughter.

His father changed their family name to Kılıçdaroğlu in the 1950s. This was because many people in their village had the same last name. Kılıçdaroğlu's family is also known as the Cebeligiller. He married Selvi Gündüz in 1974.

Kılıçdaroğlu can speak some French. He also understands some Zazaki, a language spoken in parts of Turkey. He has said that his family came from Khorasan and settled in Turkey. He has also confirmed that he is Alevi, but he prefers not to focus on ethnic or religious politics.

Works

Kılıçdaroğlu has written four books and many articles:

Unemployment Insurance Law-Interpretations and Explanations (1993)
1948 Economics Congress of Turkey (1997)
Underground Economy and the Requirement of Reorganisation in the Bureaucracy (1997)
March for a Free and Just Turkey (2020)

Electoral History

Presidential Elections

Election date	Votes	Percentage of votes	Map	Result
2023	25,504,552 (2nd round)	47.82%		2nd

Parliamentary Elections

Election date	Votes	Percentage of votes	+/–	Political party
2011	11,155,972	25.98%	New	Republican People's Party
2015 June	11,518,139	24.95%	1.03
2015 November	12,111,812	25.32%	0.37
2018	11,354,190	22.65%	2.67
2023	13,791,299	25.33%	2.68