Graduate, Faculty of Economics, Marmara University, Istanbul. 1994, elected Mayor, Metropolitan Istanbul; 1999, had to leave office and serve four months of imprisonment following reading of a poem during party rally; 2001, Founder and Chairman, Justice and Development Party, AK Parti; 2002, excluded from being candidate in election; 2003, elected Deputy for Siirt, in by-election; since 2003, Prime Minister of Turkey; 2007, elected for second term; also, Chairman, AK Party.