Besim Tibuk is known as one of the figures who brought liberal economic thought into the political arena in Türkiye. He gained prominence in the business world through his initiatives in the tourism sector and is also the founder and first chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Especially in the 1990s, Tibuk attracted public attention with his political statements, drawing reactions from various circles due to both his private sector experience and his political discourse based on liberal ideas.

Youth and Education

Besim Tibuk was born in 1945 in the Fındıklı district of Rize. Due to his father's civil service career, he spent his childhood in various provinces. After attending primary school in Murgul, he began secondary school in Kars and completed his high school education at Kabataş Erkek Lisesi in Istanbul. He pursued his university studies abroad and studied economics at the University of Hannover in Germany. Later, he returned to Türkiye and graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Istanbul University. During his student years—particularly while abroad—he became acquainted with liberal economic thought and engaged in extensive readings on the subject.

Career and Achievements

Tibuk began his professional career as a tour guide. In the 1970s, he entered the tourism sector and later founded Net Holding, making significant investments in the hospitality and tourism industries. Through this company, he carried out tourism projects in areas such as Antalya, Bodrum, and Kuşadası. Over time, Net Holding became one of Türkiye’s leading tourism companies. Embracing an entrepreneurial and private-sector-oriented approach, Tibuk voiced his opinions on the development of a free-market economy in various platforms in Türkiye.

Political Career

In the 1980s, Tibuk attracted attention with his public statements in support of liberal economics. Seeking to translate these ideas into politics, he founded the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 1994. The party’s platform was based on individual freedoms, private property, low taxation, and free-market principles. One of the party’s slogans was “the state should shrink, the individual should grow.”

Tibuk ran for mayor of Istanbul in the 1994 local elections, drawing the public’s attention through his remarks during televised debates, although he failed to achieve significant voter support. He also participated in the 1999 general elections with the LDP, but after the party secured only 0.5% of the vote, Tibuk resigned from the party leadership in 2002 and announced his withdrawal from active politics. He was succeeded by Cem Toker as party chairman.

Tibuk’s political discourse was particularly noted for his sharp criticism of the state’s role in the economy. With statements like “the state does not produce,” he advocated for the privatization of state economic enterprises and contributed to making liberalism more visible in Türkiye’s political rhetoric.

Intellectual Contributions

Tibuk’s political and intellectual contributions are significant for the representation of liberalism in Türkiye. He promoted a program that supported the withdrawal of the state from the economy, the privatization of public enterprises, tax reductions, and the expansion of individual freedoms. These ideas formed the foundation of LDP’s institutional identity. Tibuk is considered one of the figures who helped the term “liberal” gain ideological meaning in the Turkish context.

Later Years

After retiring from active politics, Tibuk became less prominent in the public eye and focused on his business activities. He continued his investments under Net Holding and occasionally shared political commentary. In rare interviews with the press, he expressed criticisms concerning the Turkish economy, education system, and politics.