Mehmet Ali Talat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mehmet Ali Talat
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| 2nd President of Northern Cyprus | |
| In office 24 April 2005 – 23 April 2010 |
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| Prime Minister | Ferdi Sabit Soyer Derviş Eroğlu |
| Preceded by | Rauf Denktaş |
| Succeeded by | Derviş Eroğlu |
| Prime Minister of Northern Cyprus | |
| In office 13 January 2004 – 24 April 2005 |
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| President | Rauf Denktaş |
| Preceded by | Derviş Eroğlu |
| Succeeded by | Ferdi Sabit Soyer |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Northern Cyprus | |
| In office 11 December 1995 – 16 August 1996 |
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| Preceded by | Özker Özgür |
| Succeeded by | Serdar Denktaş |
| Leader of the Republican Turkish Party | |
| In office 14 June 2015 – 13 November 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Özkan Yorgancıoğlu |
| Succeeded by | Tufan Erhürman |
| In office 14 January 1996 – 21 May 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Özker Özgür |
| Succeeded by | Ferdi Sabit Soyer |
| Member of the Assembly of Republic | |
| In office 6 December 1998 – 23 April 2005 |
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| Constituency | Lefkoşa (1998, 2003, 2005) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 July 1952 Kyrenia, British Cyprus |
| Nationality | Turkish Cypriot |
| Political party | Republican Turkish Party |
| Spouse | Oya Talat |
| Children | 2 |
| Residences | North Nicosia, Northern Cyprus |
| Alma mater | Middle East Technical University Eastern Mediterranean University |
Mehmet Ali Talat (born 6 July 1952) is a Turkish Cypriot politician. He was the president of Northern Cyprus from 2005 to 2010. Talat also led the social democratic Republican Turkish Party (CTP) at different times. He was the prime minister in 2004. He then won the presidential election on 17 April 2005. Talat took office on 25 April 2005. He followed Rauf Denktaş as president. He lost the 2010 presidential election. Derviş Eroğlu became the next president.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Talat was born in Kyrenia on 6 July 1952. He finished his high school education in Cyprus. Later, he studied Electrical and Electronics Engineering. He graduated from the Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Turkey.
While at university, Talat was involved in political activities. He continued this work after returning to Cyprus. He helped create Turkish Cypriot trade unions. He also played a key role in forming the Turkish Cypriot Students' Youth Federation (KOGEF). He was the first chairman of its executive board.
He also joined the youth movement of the Republican Turkish Party. For many years, he served on various committees within the CTP. He was also the party's secretary for Education.
Political Career
Joining the Republican Turkish Party
Talat joined the CTP in 1973. He quickly became a senior figure in the party. During this time, he worked as a refrigerator repairman. He was an important leader when Northern Cyprus declared its independence in 1983.
The CTP had actually been against creating an independent state in the north. Days before the declaration, they handed out flyers against it. However, Talat said that Rauf Denktaş threatened the party. This was to stop them from voting against the declaration. Talat was one of those who did not want to vote for independence. But the party leaders decided to vote for it by a small margin.
Becoming a Minister
Talat became the Minister of Education and Culture in 1993. This was in the first government formed by the CTP and the Democratic Party (DP). He held this same job in the next DP-CTP government. Later, he became the Minister of State and Deputy Prime Minister in a third coalition government.
Talat was chosen as the leader of the CTP on 14 January 1996. He took over from Özker Özgür. After being elected to the TRNC parliament in December 2003, Talat formed a new CTP-DP government. This happened on 13 January 2004. The then-President Rauf Denktaş asked him to do this. The previous Prime Minister, Derviş Eroğlu, could not form a government.
Serving as Prime Minister
Talat's party won the general elections on 20 February 2005. He then formed another CTP-DP government. He served as Prime Minister until he was elected president.
Presidency of Northern Cyprus
Mehmet Ali Talat became the second President of Northern Cyprus on 17 April 2005. After his election, he asked Ferdi Sabit Soyer to form a new government. Talat also appointed Raşit Pertev as the main negotiator for peace talks with the United Nations.
During the 2004 referendum, a plan called the Annan Plan was proposed. This plan aimed to unite Cyprus as a loose confederation. Talat encouraged Turkish Cypriots to vote 'Yes' to this plan. The plan was strongly supported in Northern Cyprus. However, the Greek Cypriot community rejected it. Because of this, the plan was not put into action.
The European Union promised to help Northern Cyprus. They wanted to ease its isolation because of the 'Yes' vote. But these promises were not fully kept. This made many Turkish Cypriots feel frustrated. This frustration led to a change in political support. In 2009, the side that supported independence won the general elections. In 2010, Derviş Eroğlu, who favored independence, won the presidential election.
Even though his side supports independence, Talat has worked towards a settlement. He negotiates with the Greek Cypriot side. The goal is to create a united Cyprus. This would be a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation. It would be based on equal political rights for both communities. It would also have one sovereignty, one citizenship, and one international identity.
Return to Party Leadership
On 14 June 2015, Talat won the CTP congress. He became the leader of the party again. Under his leadership, the previous government resigned. A new government was formed. It was a coalition between the CTP and the National Unity Party (UBP).
This government later fell apart. This was due to disagreements with Turkey and issues over water supply. Talat then became the leader of the main opposition party. On 22 May 2016, he announced he would not run for party leadership again.
Personal Life
Mehmet Ali Talat is married to Oya Talat. She is a chemist and works for women's rights. They got married on 29 October 1978. They have two children, a daughter and a son.
See also
In Spanish: Mehmet Ali Talat para niños
