The
first Woman Prime Minister of Turkey. She was born on the 23rd of October 1944
in Istanbul. Her full name is Tansu Penbe Çiller and she is the only daughter
of Bilecik ex-Governor Hüseyin Necati Çiller and Muazzez Çiller. She started
primary school in Istanbul–Fındıklı İsmet İnönü Primary School but upon the
assignment of her father Necati Bey to Bilecik as Governor she completed it in
Bilecik Edebali Primary School. After graduating from American Girls College
she completed her higher education in Robert College’s Economy Department.
After marrying in 1963 Özer Uçuran (later Özer Çiller) she went to USA with him
and completed her Master’s degree in New Hampshire University and her PhD in
Connecticut University. After working in Yale University for a while she
returned to Turkey and started to work in Boğaziçi University as an academic
member. She became an associate professor in 1978 and a professor in 1983.
Tansu
Çiller who worked in various universities including Boğaziçi University started
her political career joining True Path Party in 1990. She was chosen as
Parliament Member in 1991 General Elections and served three periods (19th,
20th and 21st periods) as Istanbul Parliament Member. She served as the
Minister of Economy in the coalition government established with Sosyal
Demokrat Party of People under the leadership of Süleyman Demirel. After
Süleyman Demirel was chosen as President and left Prime Ministry, Tansu Çiller
was elected as the President of Doğru Yol Party (DYP) in the General Assembly
of 1993.
Between
1993 and 1996 she served as Prime Minister during three periods (50th-51st-52nd
governmental periods) (25th June 1993 – 6th March 1996), and as Foreign
Minister and Vice Prime Minister in the 54th government established under the
leadership of Prof. Erbakan (28th June 1996 – 20th June 1997).
She
put the 5 April decisions into practice in 1994 which would not be erased from
memories for a long time. These decisions caused a heavy economic crisis in
1994, decrease of salaries, increasing unemployment, a serious devaluation and
an inflation rate surpassing 100% for the country. The 3rd biggest devaluation
of the Republic with a rate of 104% occurred in this period.
She
caused the dismissal of the Refah-Yol government by taking action against the
Prime Minister Erbakan during the antidemocratic “postmodern coup” against the
government which occurred after the “Susurluk event” in 1997.
During
the periods in which Çiller was Prime Minister, struggle against terrorism was
not successful; on the contrary it became more violent. She signed Customs
Union agreement with European Union which caused the increase of imported
products of automotive industry. Individual application rights of all Turkish
Republic citizens to the European Human Rights Court were recognized. When DYP
could not surpass the limit in the early general elections of 2002 she left her
position within the party and retreated from active politics. She left her
place to Mehmet Ağar who would later be condemned due to Susurluk case. She is
the mother of two children.
Books:
Türk
Sanayiinde Koruma ve İthal İkamesi (1976), Dünyada ve Türkiye'de Kur
Politikaları ve Sorunları” (1983).
REFERENCE: Büyük Larousse Sözlük ve Ansiklopedisi (Cilt 6, 1986), Akil Bilge - Nursel Erel / Tansu Çiller'in Siyaset Romanı (1994), Faruk Bildirici / Maskeli Leydi (1998), Turan Yavuz / İkinci Vatan Tansu Çiller’in ABD Macerası (1999), Osman İridağ / Çiller Güzelliği ile Kazandı (Aksiyon, 13 Mart 1999), Şakir Süter (Akşam, 17 Aralık 2002), Tansu Çiller, başkanlığa ağlayarak veda etti (Zaman, 15.12.2002), Sema Dülger / Babıali’nin Unutulmayan Duayenleri (2007), Tansu Çiller Gafları (webhatti.com, 08.08.2010), TBMM Albümü 3. Cilt 1983-2010 (2010), İhsan Işık / Ünlü Kadınlar (Türkiye Ünlüleri Ansiklopedisi, C. 6, 2013) - Encyclopedia of Turkey’s Famous People (2013).