Statesman and politician (B. 1919, Istanbul- D. May 15, 1998,
Istanbul). His full name was Mehmet Naim Talu and he graduated from Kabataş
High School and from the Faculty of Economics, Istanbul University (1943).
After working at Sümerbank, he transferred to Central Bank in 1946. He became
the General Manager in this organization where he was the proxy General
Directorate in 1966. In 1970, upon reorganizing the bank, he was appointed
chairman of the board of directors and the bank. He served as Secretary of
Commerce in 2nd Nihat Erim Government established after March 12th,
1971 memorandum. He retained his position as the Secretary of Commerce in Ferit
Melen Government which served between May 22nd, 1972 and April 10th,
1973.
While Naim Talu was the Secretary of Commerce in 1972, he was
appointed to the Senate of the Republic from the Presidential quota by
President Cevdet Sunay. After dismissal of Melen Government, by being the
common candidate shown by both Cumhuriyetçi Güven Party (CGP) and Adalet Party (AP), he was assigned to form a new
government in April 15, 1973.
During Naim Talu’s Prime Minister Period, partial improvement was
seen in the economy. People were not refused from the Prime Minister’s doors as
it used to be, they could tell their problems. Having an economist prime
minister led to forgot the remnants of the memorandum. Even though Turkish
people saw well-intentioned and bright-faced prime minister, his works was
nothing but to bring the country safely to the elections rather than his tasks.
1973 election was made during Naim Talu Government and after the
election, since no party alone could provide enough seats to form a government;
Talu government remained in power until February 1974. After October 14th,
1973 elections, he was criticized during three months period of the proxy
government because of his long-term decisions and the changes among the
high-grade officers. After CHP-MSP coalition headed by Bülent Ecevit was
established, Talu handed the task over to Ecevit.
Naim Talu was appointed to Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Akbank after the ending of his task in Quota Senate in 1976. He died in
Istanbul on May 15th, 1998. Talu, who was married with two children,
spoke English and French.