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Kadir Topbaş

Kadir Topbaş
KadirTopbassergi.jpg
31st Mayor of Istanbul
Assumed office
28 March 2004
Preceded by Ali Müfit Gürtuna
Mayor of Beyoğlu
In office
18 April 1999 – 28 March 2004
Preceded by Nusret Bayraktar
Succeeded by Ahmet Misbah Demircan
Personal details
Born (1945-01-08) 8 January 1945 (age 72)
Yusufeli, Artvin, Turkey
Political party Justice and Development Party (AKP)
Residence Beyoğlu, Istanbul
Alma mater Istanbul University (B.S.)
Istanbul University (Architecture)
Istanbul University (Ph.D.)
Religion Sunni Islam

Kadir Topbaş (born 8 January 1945) is a Turkish architect, businessman, politician and the current mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality in Turkey.

He was born on 8 January 1945 in Altıparmak village of Yusufeli district in Artvin Province, Turkey. Kadir Topbaş moved in 1946 with his family to Istanbul. He earned a PhD in architectural history from Istanbul University following his education of theology in 1972 and architecture in 1974. After working as preacher in Edirne, teacher and freelance architect in İstanbul, he served between 1994 and 1998 as advisor to mayor Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the restoration and decoration of palaces and other historical buildings in Istanbul.

He is also owner of Turkish cuisine restaurant chain Saray Muhallebicisi.

He entered politics as member of the religious oriented Milli Selamet Partisi (MSP) and became mayor of Beyoğlu district in İstanbul, where he lives. Later on, Topbaş ran twice for the deputy of Artvin province in the parliament, first in 1977 from the MSP and then in 1987 from Refah Partisi (RP) without success. In 1999, he was elected mayor of Beyoğlu district from the Fazilet Partisi (FP). In the 2004 regional elections, Kadir Topbaş ran for the post of mayor of İstanbul from the Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (AKP) and won. He is mayor of Istanbul since March 28, 2004. In November 2007 he became co-president of United Cities and Local Governments and was longlisted for the 2008 World Mayor award. Kadir Topbaş was re-elected as the mayor of İstanbul metropolitan area in 2009 Turkish general local elections, passing the runner-up Kemal Kilicdaroglu, current leader of Republican People's Party.


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