Devlet Bahçeli

Devlet Bahçeli MP
Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey
In office 28 May 1999 – 18 November 2002
Prime Minister	Bülent Ecevit
Served with	Hüsamettin Özkan Şükrü Sina Gürel Cumhur Ersümer Mesut Yılmaz
Preceded by	Hikmet Uluğbay
Succeeded by	Abdüllatif Şener
Leader of the Nationalist Movement Party
Incumbent
Assumed office 6 July 1997
Preceded by	Alparslan Türkeş
Member of the Grand National Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 22 July 2007
Constituency	Osmaniye (2007, 2011, June 2015)
In office 19 April 1999 – 18 November 2002
Constituency	Osmaniye (1999)
Personal details
Born	(1948-01-01) January 1, 1948 Bahçe, Osmaniye, Turkey
Political party	Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)
Alma mater	Gazi University
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Economist, academic

Devlet Bahçeli (born 1 January 1948) is a Turkish politician who has been the chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) since 6 July 1997.

An academic in economics at Gazi University in Ankara until 1987, he served as Deputy Prime Minister in the coalition government of Bülent Ecevit (1999–2002). Elected in the province of Osmaniye, he has been an MP in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey since 22 July 2007.

Education and work

Born in the rural district of Bahçe in the province of Osmaniye, Bahçeli attended primary school there. He moved to Istanbul for his secondary education. Bahçeli received his higher education from the scientific academy in Ankara and his doctorate from Gazi University in Ankara. Bahçeli served as a lecturer for economics at Gazi University before entering political life in 1987.

Political career

In 1987, Devlet Bahçeli became a member of the board of the Nationalist Task Party (MÇP), which was officially renamed the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) during a congress on 24 January 1993. Following the death on 5 April 1997 of the founder and leader, Alparslan Türkeş, he became on 6 July 1997 the second chairman of the MHP. From 1999 to 2002, Bahçeli served as a deputy prime minister in the coalition government (DSP-ANAP-MHP) of Bülent Ecevit.

Devlet Bahçeli said that the attacks by MHP affiliated Turkish youth on South Korean tourists was "understandable", telling the Turkish news paper Hurriyet that: "What feature differentiates a Korean from a Chinese? They see that they both have slanted eyes. How can they tell the difference?". Another translation of his remarks was : "What is the difference between a Korean and a Chinese anyway? They both have slitty eyes. Does it make any difference?" A Uighur staffed, Turkish owned Chinese restaurant was assaulted by Turkish nationalists, who have also attacked the Dutch consulate which they thought was the Russian consulate.

Elections

In the 2007 general elections, Devlet Bahçeli led the MHP list in the province of Osmaniye. His parliamentary list polled 44.90% (99,565 votes) and won two of the four provincial seats.

In the 2011 general elections, he led the MHP list in the province of Osmaniye. His parliamentary list polled 41.22% (110,708 votes) and won two of the four provincial seats.