Aytekin Kotil
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Aytekin Kotil | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Istanbul | |
| In office December 1977 – 12 September 1980 | |
| Preceded by | Ahmet İsvan |
| Succeeded by | Hakkı Akansel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 February 1934 Gündoğdu, Rize, Turkey |
| Died | 9 August 1992 (aged 58) Istanbul, Turkey |
| Resting place | Zincirlikuyu cemetery, Istanbul |
| Party | Republican People's Party (until 12 September 1980) |
| Other political affiliations | Social Democratic Populist Party |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Istanbul University |
Aytekin Kotil (1934–1992) was a Turkish social democratic politician. He was the mayor of Istanbul being a pioneer in the municipal socialism in Turkey. He was also a member of the Turkish Parliament.
Kotil was born in Gündoğdu, Rize, on 21 February 1934.[1] He had three brothers.[1] He was a graduate of Vefa High School, Istanbul.[2] He received a degree in law from the law faculty of Istanbul University in 1960.[1]
Career
Following his graduation Kotil worked as a lawyer in Istanbul.[1] He joined the Republican People's Party (CHP) and became active in the CHP's Istanbul organization.[3] He was part of a faction consisted of those party members from the Black Sea region.[4] The group was led by Ali Topuz and included Necdet Uğur, Orhan Eyüpoğlu, Tarhan Erdem and other leading figures in the party.[4] It was the earliest supporter of Bülent Ecevit against İsmet İnönü in the election of the CHP chairmanship in 1972.[4] Kotil and Ali Topuz were ardent followers of Bülent Ecevit's left of center movement.[4]
Kotil was named as the head of the CHP's Istanbul branch in 1973.[5] He was elected as the mayor of Istanbul in the local elections held on 11 December 1977, replacing Ahmet İsvan in the post.[1][6] His slogan in the election campaign was "reachable, not a speech- but a service-generating mayor."[6] He managed to obtain 56.05% of the votes.[6] Kotil adopted a socialist approach during his tenure.[7] His term ended in September 1980 immediately after the military coup.[5] Kotil's successor in the post was Hakkı Akansel, a military general.[1]
Kotil was elected to the Parliament in the 1987 general election from the Social Democratic Populist Party.[1] In the party Kotil and Ali Topuz supported the leadership of Deniz Baykal against Erdal İnönü.[8]
Personal life and death
Kotil married in 1961 and had three children.[1] He died of liver disease in Istanbul on 9 August 1992.[1] He was buried in the Zincirlikuyu cemetery, Şişli, Istanbul.[5]
