Kadir Topbaş (8 January 1945—13 February 2021) was a Turkish architect, businessman, politician and former mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality in Turkey from 2004 to 2017.

Contents

1 Biography

2 Political career

3 Personal life

4 Awards

5 References

6 External links

Biography

He was born on 8 January 1945 in Altıparmak village of Yusufeli district in Artvin Province, Turkey. Kadir Topbaş moved in 1946 with his family to Istanbul. He earned a PhD in architectural history from Istanbul University following his education of theology in 1972 and architecture in 1974. After working as preacher in Edirne, teacher and freelance architect in İstanbul, he served between 1994 and 1998 as advisor to mayor Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for the restoration and decoration of palaces and other historical buildings in Istanbul.

He was also the owner of the Turkish cuisine restaurant chain Saray Muhallebicisi.

Political career

He entered politics as member of the religious oriented Milli Selamet Partisi (MSP) and became mayor of Beyoğlu district in İstanbul, where he lives. Later on, Topbaş ran twice for the deputy of Artvin province in the parliament, first in 1977 from the MSP and then in 1987 from Refah Partisi (RP) without success. In 1999, he was elected mayor of Beyoğlu district from the Fazilet Partisi (FP). In the 2004 regional elections, Kadir Topbaş ran for the post of mayor of İstanbul from the Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (AKP) and won. He is mayor of Istanbul since March 28, 2004. In November 2007 he became co-president of United Cities and Local Governments and was longlisted for the 2008 World Mayor award. Kadir Topbaş was re-elected as the mayor of İstanbul metropolitan area in 2009 Turkish general local elections, passing the runner-up Kemal Kilicdaroglu, current leader of Republican People's Party.

In 2009 he was appointed President of the Union of Municipalities of Turkey. On 22 September 2017, he resigned as the mayor of Istanbul metropolitan area, without revealing a particular political reason. Mevlüt Uysal, the district mayor of Başakşehir since 2009, was elected as his successor by the Council of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality on 28 September.

Kadir Topbaş Chowk in Lahore, Pakistan inaugurated by Kadir Topbaş, The Mayor of Istanbul (Turkey) on March 12, 2012

Personal life

He was married with two sons and a daughter.

In November 2020, Topbaş was hospitalized for COVID-19. He died on 13 February 2021 due to multiple organ failure following COVID-19 treatment.

Awards

Ribbon bar

Award or decoration

Country

Date

Place

Note

Ref.

Order of Cultural Merit

 South Korea

12 September 2014

Seoul