Cevdet Yılmaz

Cevdet Yılmaz is a Turkish economist and politician who has served as the Vice President of Turkey since June 2023 under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. A long-standing member of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), he previously held significant ministerial portfolios and represented Bingöl in the Grand National Assembly. Yılmaz is recognized as a key technocrat within the AKP government, with a career focused on economic planning, development, and regional policy.

Early life and education

Cevdet Yılmaz was born on 1 April 1967 in Bingöl, a province in eastern Turkey. He completed his secondary education in Bingöl before moving to Ankara for higher studies. He earned a bachelor's degree in Public Administration from the Faculty of Political Sciences at Ankara University, a prestigious institution known for training many Turkish bureaucrats and politicians. Following his undergraduate studies, Yılmaz pursued a master's degree in Economics and Politics of Development at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom, which provided him with a strong foundation in international development theory and policy.

Political career

Yılmaz began his professional career in the public sector, working at the State Planning Organization (DPT), a key institution for Turkey's five-year development plans. His expertise in economic planning led to his appointment as an advisor to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2003, following the AKP's rise to power. He was first elected as a Member of Parliament for Bingöl in the June 2011 general election, entering the Grand National Assembly. Yılmaz has been re-elected in subsequent elections, including June 2015, November 2015, and 2018, solidifying his political base.

Ministerial roles

Cevdet Yılmaz served twice as the Minister of Development, a critical cabinet position overseeing national economic strategy and European Union accession funds. His first term lasted from July 2011 to December 2013 under Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, where he managed Turkey's Tenth Development Plan. He was reappointed to the role in November 2015, serving under Prime Ministers Ahmet Davutoğlu and Binali Yıldırım until the ministry was abolished in July 2018 following a shift to the presidential system. In these roles, he was instrumental in coordinating projects related to GAP (Southeastern Anatolia Project) and managing Turkey's negotiations with institutions like the International Monetary Fund.

Vice presidency

Following the 2023 presidential election, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appointed Cevdet Yılmaz as Vice President of Turkey on 4 June 2023. In this role, he acts as a senior deputy to the president, with responsibilities often encompassing economic coordination, liaison with the parliament, and oversight of key policy portfolios. His appointment was seen as reinforcing the technocratic and economically focused wing of the AKP within the new presidential cabinet, working alongside other key figures like Mehmet Şimşek.

Personal life

Cevdet Yılmaz is married and has children. He is known for maintaining a relatively low public profile compared to some of his political contemporaries, with his reputation built primarily on his technical expertise and bureaucratic experience. Fluent in English, Yılmaz has represented Turkey at numerous international forums, including meetings of the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, and G20. He maintains strong ties to his hometown of Bingöl and is often involved in regional development initiatives for eastern Anatolia.

Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:Vice presidents of Turkey Category:Justice and Development Party (Turkey) politicians Category:Members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Category:Government ministers of Turkey Category:People from Bingöl