Sıtkı Yırcalı (1908–1988) was a Turkish jurist and politician who served in various cabinet posts during the period between 1950 and 1958. He was a member of the Democrat Party and then of the Justice Party.

Early life and education

Yırcalı was born in

Balıkesir Balıkesir () is a city in Turkey and is the capital city of Balıkesir Province. Balıkesir is located in the Marmara region of Turkey and has a population of 338,936. Between 1341–1922, it was the capital of Karasi. History Close to ...

on 13 September 1908. He hailed from a well-known family, and his father, Yırcalızade Şükrü, was a member of the

Committee of Union and Progress The Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) ( ota, اتحاد و ترقى جمعيتی, translit=İttihad ve Terakki Cemiyeti, script=Arab), later the Union and Progress Party ( ota, اتحاد و ترقى فرقه‌سی, translit=İttihad ve Tera ...

who was active in its local branch. Sıtkı graduated from

Kabataş Erkek Lisesi Kabataş may refer to: * Kabataş, Beyoğlu, a quarter in the European part of Istanbul, Turkey ** Kabataş (Istanbul Metro), a funicular railway station * Kabataş, Çine, a village in Aydın Province, Turkey * Kabataş, Kemaliye, a village in Erz ...

in 1928. He received a bachelor's degree in law from Istanbul University and a PhD in law from the

University of Paris , image_name = Coat of arms of the University of Paris.svg , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of Arms , latin_name = Universitas magistrorum et scholarium Parisiensis , motto = ''Hic et ubique terrarum'' (Latin) , mottoeng = Here and a ...

Career

Following his graduation Yırcalı worked as a lawyer in his hometown. He joined the Democrat Party in 1946 and became its head in Balıkesir. He was elected to the Parliament in 1950 and served there for three terms. In the cabinets led by

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister i ...

Adnan Menderes Yırcalı held the following cabinet posts: minister of customs and monopolies (1951–1952), minister of industry (1952–1954; 1958), minister of economy (1954–1955) and minister of press and tourism (1957–1958). He resigned from office while serving as minister of industry 1958. From 1957 to 1960 Yırcalı was among the Democrat Party members who opposed the hegemony of the founders of the party, including Adnan Menderes. The group was consisted of 150 party members and headed by him. Yırcalı was arrested after the

military coup A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

on 27 May 1960 and jailed 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 ...

for a while. He continued to work as a lawyer and was elected as a senator for the Justice Party in 1975.

Personal life and death

Yırcalı was married and had a son and a daughter. His younger brother, Sırrı, was also a lawyer and a politician from the Democrat Party who was a member of the Parliament between 1954 and 1960. Sıtkı Yırcalı died in Ankara on 29 September 1988 and was buried in Cebeci cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yırcalı, Sıtkı 20th-century Turkish lawyers 1908 births 1988 deaths Burials at Cebeci Asri Cemetery Democrat Party (Turkey, 1946–1961) politicians Deputies of Balıkesir Industry ministers of Turkey Istanbul University Faculty of Law alumni Justice Party (Turkey) politicians Ministers of Economic Affairs of Turkey Members of the 20th government of Turkey Members of the 21st government of Turkey Members of the 23rd government of Turkey Members of the 9th Parliament of Turkey Members of the 10th Parliament of Turkey Members of the 11th Parliament of Turkey Members of the Senate of the Republic (Turkey) Ministers of Tourism of Turkey People from Balıkesir Politicians arrested in Turkey Turkish prisoners and detainees University of Paris alumni Kabataş Erkek Lisesi alumni