Cem Toker (born July 5, 1957), is a Turkish politician, businessman, economist and the former leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Turkey ('' tr, Liberal Demokrat Parti'', LDP). He was elected in the fourth ordinary party congress on June 20, 2005.

Early life and career

Toker was born in 1957 in

Istanbul ) , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = 34000 to 34990 , area_code = +90 212 (European side) +90 216 (Asian side) , registration_plate = 34 , blank_name_sec2 = GeoTLD , blank_i ...

. He graduated from the British College, İstanbul and then earned his

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

in economics from Arizona State University. He worked in the finance sector and formed a company offering international consultancy, guidance and language services. Toker is single and has no children.

Political career

His political career in the LDP started in 1996. Toker served as an executive and the chairman of the

branch of the LDP. He also served as the party's deputy secretary-general and secretary-general. From 2003 to 2005, he served as the deputy chairman of LDP. He was elected as the president of the party for the first time at the 4th ordinary congress of LDP in June 2005. He has been reelected twice in March 2008 and October 2010. He was the architect of the LDP-led umbrella alliance offer in 2006. He offered an alliance to nine political parties from both left and right (including Anavatan and

Demokratik Sol Parti The Democratic Left Party ( tr, Demokratik Sol Parti, abbreviated DSP) is a Turkish political party, founded on 14 November 1985 by Rahşan Ecevit and Bülent Ecevit. History 1985–1999 The DSP, a social-democratic oriented party, was re ...

) for the basic values of republicanism against the governing conservative party, AKP. The offer was still open in 2007 and in

2011 elections The following elections occurred in the year 2011. * Local electoral calendar 2011 * National electoral calendar 2011 * 2011 United Nations Security Council election Africa * 2011 Beninese presidential election * 2011 Beninese parliamentary ...

. In January 2017 he announced that he was stepping down as party leader and transferring the party leadership to

Gültekin Tırpancı Gültekin is a Turkish given name for males and a surname. It may refer to: Given name * Gültekin Kaan (born ''Gültekin Kaan Kaynak''), Turkish German musician and singer * Gültekin Uysal (born 1976), Turkish politician and businessman Sur ...

References

1957 births Living people Leaders of political parties in Turkey Politicians from Istanbul Arizona State University alumni Liberal Democratic Party (Turkey) politicians {{Turkey-politician-stub