Medeni Berk (1913–1994) was a Turkish banker and politician who held several cabinet posts from 1957 to 1960 in the

cabinets A cabinet is a body of high-ranking state officials, typically consisting of the executive branch's top leaders. Members of a cabinet are usually called cabinet ministers or secretaries. The function of a cabinet varies: in some countrie ...

led by Prime Minister

Adnan Menderes Adnan Menderes (; 1899 – 17 September 1961) was a Turkish politician who served as Prime Minister of Turkey between 1950 and 1960. He was one of the founders of the Democrat Party (DP) in 1946, the fourth legal opposition party of Turkey. He ...

Early life and education

He was born in Medina, Ottoman Arabia, in 1913 when his father was serving there as a military officer in the Ottoman Army. His parents were from Aksaray. He completed his primary and secondary education in İzmir. He attended a high school in Istanbul and then graduated from the business and commerce school, precursor of Marmara University, in 1936.

Career and activities

Following his graduation Berk worked as an inspector at the state-owned Ziraat Bank where he also served as general director. He became the general director of a cooperation, Tariş, in 1950. Next year, he was appointed general director of another state-owned finance institution, Turkish Real Estate Credit Bank. Berk's political career began in 1957 when he was elected as a deputy from Niğde for the ruling Democrat Party in the by-elections. He was part of the progressive group within the party along with President Celâl Bayar and Refik Koraltan. Berk was appointed minister of public works in 1957 which he held until 1959. Next, he was named as the minister of state and deputy prime minister in 1959 and was in office until 27 May 1960 when the Menderes government was overthrown through a military coup. Berk was very influential in the resignation of

Vehbi Koç Ahmet Vehbi Koç (20 July 1901 – 25 February 1996) was a Turkish entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded the Koç Holding, Koç Group, one of Turkey’s largest groups of companies. During his lifetime he came to be one of Turkey's wea ...

, a leading businessman, from the

Republican People's Party The Republican People's Party ( tr, Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi, , acronymized as CHP ) is a Kemalist and social-democratic political party in Turkey which currently stands as the main opposition party. It is also the oldest political party ...

.) (2006), pp, 240-241. In January 1959 while serving as minister of public work Berk told Koç that if he would not join the Democrat Party, it would be very difficult for him to take out a loan from the state banks. Koç left the Republican People's Party on 10 March 1960, but did not join the Democrat Party. Berk was one of the Democrat Party politicians who served as the president of Fenerbahçe S.K. during the rule of the Democratic Party from 1950 to 1960. His term was between 1959 and 27 May 1960.

Arrest and later years

Berk was arrested immediately after the coup and tried by the Supreme Court of Justice in

Yassıada Yassıada ( Turkish: Flat Island), officially renamed Democracy and Freedom Island ( Turkish: Demokrasi ve Özğürlükler Adası) in 2013, is one of the Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmara, to the southeast of Istanbul. In Byzantine times, i ...

. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. However, he was released from prison in 1964 when an amnesty was granted. Berk was a board member of the private bank

Akbank Akbank T.A.Ş. is one of the largest banks in Turkey. Founded in 1948, , it had revenues of nearly TL 13.7 billion. Listed on the Borsa Istanbul, its largest shareholders are members of the Sabancı family. Akbank is a bank that offers vehicle ...

and later served as its general director. He was also the chairman of the Turkish Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry between 5 January 1970 and 30 May 1971.

Personal life and death

Berk married twice and had a daughter from his first marriage. He died in İstanbul on 16 March 1994 and was buried at Edirnekapı cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Berk, Medeni 1913 births 1994 deaths Democrat Party (Turkey, 1946–1961) politicians Fenerbahçe S.K. presidents Marmara University alumni Members of the 23rd government of Turkey Members of the 11th Parliament of Turkey People from Medina Ministers of Public Works of Turkey Deputy Prime Ministers of Turkey Turkish bankers Burials at Edirnekapı Martyr's Cemetery Turkish prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Turkey Deputies of Niğde People convicted in the Yassıada trials