Abdullah Gül, a politician, academic, and economist, served as the 11th President of Türkiye from 2007 to 2014. Prior to his presidency, he held significant roles such as prime minister, foreign minister, deputy prime minister, and state minister, and was a founding member of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party). Born in Kayseri, Gül conducted academic studies in international economics and contributed to European Union (EU) integration, democracy, and international relations throughout his political career.

Family Background and Early Life

Abdullah Gül was born on October 29, 1950, in Kayseri. His family is one of Kayseri’s prominent families, with a lineage tracing back to the 13th century; their surname derives from the first imam of the Gülük Mosque, built during the Seljuk period. His father, Ahmet Hamdi Gül, worked as a foreman at the Kayseri Aircraft Factory and established his own business in 1972, operating in the industrial sector. His mother, Adviye Gül, belongs to Kayseri’s Satoğlu family and is the daughter of a poet and teacher. His grandfather, Hayrullah Efendi, was a veteran of the Turkish War of Independence and a merchant. The Gül family has produced academics, writers, and bureaucrats in Kayseri. Gül grew up in Kayseri’s cultural and commercial environment, shaped by his family’s values centered on education and social responsibility.

Education and Academic Career

Abdullah Gül attended Gazi Paşa Primary School, Nazmi Toker Middle School, and Kayseri High School in Kayseri. In 1970, he enrolled in the Faculty of Economics at Istanbul University, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1974. During his university years, he was actively involved in the National Turkish Student Union (MTTB), participating in student activities and contributing to publications.

After his undergraduate studies, he began his doctoral studies at the same faculty, spending two years in London and Exeter, England, for language training and thesis research. He received his doctorate from Istanbul University in 1983 and earned the title of associate professor in international economics in 1989. In his academic career, he contributed to the establishment of the Industrial Engineering Department at Sakarya University, teaching economics courses between 1980 and 1983. From 1983 to 1991, he worked as an economist at the Islamic Development Bank in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he had the opportunity to study the economic and social structures of various countries.

Political Career

Abdullah Gül’s political career began in 1991 when his fellow Kayseri residents proposed his candidacy for parliament. Elected as a Kayseri MP from the Welfare Party in the 1991 general elections, he served five terms until 2007. His political career, spanning the Welfare Party, Virtue Party, and Justice and Development Party (AK Party), involved significant responsibilities on national and international platforms.

During his parliamentary tenure, Gül served on the TBMM’s Planning and Budget Committee (1991–1995) and Foreign Affairs Committee (1995–2001). From 1991 to 2001, he represented Türkiye in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and from 2001 to 2002, he was a member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. His work at the Council of Europe earned him the “Pro Merito” medal and the title of “Permanent Honorary Member” in 2002. In 1993, he became the Deputy Chairman for Foreign Affairs of the Welfare Party, and from 1996 to 1997, he served as State Minister and Government Spokesperson in the 54th Government.

In 2000, Gül initiated the Reformist Movement within the Virtue Party, advocating a reformist vision centered on democracy and human rights, which led to the establishment of the AK Party in 2001. As a founding member and Deputy Chairman for Political and Legal Affairs, he played a key role in the party’s formation. Following the AK Party’s success in the 2002 general elections, he became prime minister on November 18, 2002, forming the 58th Government and managing issues such as the Iraq War and economic reforms. From 2003 to 2007, as foreign minister and deputy prime minister, he initiated Türkiye's EU accession negotiations and played an active role in international relations. In 2007, he was elected by the TBMM as Türkiye s 11th President, serving until 2014.

Reformist Movement and the AK Party’s Establishment

In 2000, Gül launched the Reformist Movement within the Virtue Party, advocating a political vision prioritizing democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. That same year, he ran for the party’s leadership at the Virtue Party Congress but narrowly lost. The Reformist Movement culminated in the establishment of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in 2001. As a founding member and Deputy Chairman for Political and Legal Affairs, Gül played a significant role in the party’s formation.

Premiership (2002–2003)

Following the AK Party’s majority victory in the November 3, 2002, general elections, Abdullah Gül formed the 58th Government and became the Prime Minister of Türkiye on November 18, 2002. His roughly four-month premiership coincided with a transitional period marked by significant domestic and foreign policy challenges.

A critical foreign policy issue during this period was the 2003 Iraq War. The U.S.’s preparations for military operations in Iraq directly impacted Türkiye's strategic position and regional security policies. Gül pursued diplomatic efforts to maintain regional stability and initiated the Iraq Neighboring Countries Process, bringing together countries like Türkiye, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt to assess the regional impacts of developments in Iraq and develop a collective approach. This initiative strengthened Türkiye's regional leadership role and provided a platform to mitigate the war’s potential negative effects. Additionally, Gül’s government presented a motion to the TBMM on March 1, 2003, regarding the U.S.’s request to station troops in Türkiye for the Iraq operation, but the motion did not receive sufficient support. This decision was interpreted as an effort to assert Türkiye's independent stance in foreign policy.

The Cyprus issue was another significant matter addressed during Gül’s premiership. In 2002, negotiations for a comprehensive solution in Cyprus intensified under the United Nations’ Annan Plan. Gül’s government supported this process and made diplomatic efforts to ensure the Turkish side adopted a constructive stance. Although a final resolution was not achieved during this period, Gül’s approach demonstrated Türkiye's willingness to cooperate with the international community on the Cyprus issue.

Economically, Gül’s government continued policies to mitigate the effects of the 2001 economic crisis. By implementing the Urgent Action Plan, it took steps toward economic stability and structural reforms, targeting the strengthening of public finances, regulation of the banking sector, and improvements in the social security system. Economic reforms were prioritized to advance relations with the European Union (EU), reinforcing Türkiye's commitments to the EU membership process.

Gül’s premiership ended on March 14, 2003, when AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was elected as an MP and assumed the role of prime minister. Despite its brevity, this period represented the AK Party’s initial steps in implementing its government program and ensuring political stability. Gül continued his career as foreign minister and deputy prime minister.

Foreign Ministry and Deputy Premiership (2003–2007)

On March 14, 2003, Gül was appointed Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in the 59th Government. During this period, Türkiye’s relations with the EU progressed, with EU accession negotiations beginning on October 3, 2005. Gül also strengthened ties between the Turkish and Islamic worlds and the West. In 2003, he delivered a speech at the Organization of the Islamic Conference meeting in Tehran, calling for reforms in the Islamic world. He also chaired the Counter-Terrorism High Council, the Reform Monitoring Group, and the EU Negotiation Delegation.

Presidency (2007–2014)

Abdullah Gül’s candidacy for the presidency was announced by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on April 24, 2007. However, the presidential election process was interrupted due to political controversies and constitutional obstacles, leading the TBMM to call for early elections. In the July 22, 2007, general elections, Gül was elected as a Kayseri MP for the fifth time from the AK Party. The newly formed parliament restarted the presidential election process, and on August 28, 2007, Gül was elected by the TBMM as Türkiye's 11th President, serving until August 28, 2014.

Gül’s presidency coincided with a significant period of political, economic, and social transformation in Türkiye As a constitutionally impartial figure, he adopted a conciliatory role among different political factions. He supported initiatives to advance democratic reforms, notably endorsing the 2010 constitutional referendum, which facilitated reforms in the judiciary and public administration within constitutional boundaries. Gül also promoted dialogue and discussion on issues such as press freedom, freedom of expression, and the empowerment of civil society.

In international relations, Gül played an active role, leading efforts to strengthen Türkiye's global position. He made numerous official visits to various countries and hosted state and government leaders in Türkiye. These visits were significant for maintaining Türkiye's relations with the European Union, strengthening ties with the Turkish and Islamic worlds, and enhancing regional cooperation. Gül pursued diplomatic initiatives regarding developments in the Middle East, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, reinforcing Türkiye'srole as a regional actor. His 2008 visit to Armenia marked a historic step in bilateral relations. Additionally, he represented Türkiye's on international platforms, advocating for dialogue and cooperation on global issues.

Upon the completion of his term in 2014, Gül withdrew from active political roles.

International Titles and Awards

Abdullah Gül has received numerous international titles and awards for his academic and political contributions. His honorary doctorates include those from Burgas Free University (Bulgaria, 2003), Exeter University (UK, 2005), Baku State University (Azerbaijan, 2007), Dimitrie Cantemir Christian University (Romania, 2008), Kazan State University (Russia, 2009), Amity University (India, 2010), Dhaka University (Bangladesh, 2010), Quaid-i-Azam University and Hankuk University (South Korea, 2010), and Indonesian Universities (2011). He received an honorary doctorate in economics from Northwest University (China, 2009) and honorary professorships from Xinjiang University (China, 2009), Yusuf Balasagun National University (Kyrgyzstan, 2009), Ahmet Yesevi University (Kazakhstan, 2010), and the State Institute of Economics and Public Administration (Turkmenistan, 2013).

His state decorations include the “Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath” (UK), “Grande Colar” (Portugal), “Order of the Dutch Lion” (Netherlands), “Golden Eagle Order” and First Degree Honor Medal (Kazakhstan), “Royal Order of the Seraphim” (Sweden), “Turkmenistan State Order” and “Mahtumkulu Firaki Order” (Turkmenistan), “St. Olav Order” (Norway), “Haydar Aliyev Order” (Azerbaijan), and “Victory Order of St. George” (Georgia). He also received state decorations from Italy, Qatar, Kuwait, Cameroon, Saudi Arabia, Hungary, and Pakistan. In 2010, he was awarded the Chatham House Prize for his contributions to international diplomacy.

Personal Life

Abdullah Gül married Hayrünnisa Gül in 1980, and they have three children: Ahmet Münir, Kübra, and Mehmet Emre. Hayrünnisa Gül has been a significant supporter in both his personal life and political career, playing an active role in social projects and official events during his presidency (2007–2014). The couple lived in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from 1983 to 1991, while Gül worked as an economist at the Islamic Development Bank. This eight-year period allowed the family to experience diverse cultures and gain international living experience, coinciding with their children’s early education and contributing to their multicultural upbringing.

Despite his demanding political and academic career, Gül is known for valuing family time. His adherence to Kayseri’s family traditions has influenced the upbringing of his children and the preservation of family unity. Together with Hayrünnisa, they have prioritized their children’s education and personal development.