Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was born on 26 February 1954 in Istanbul. A Turkish politician, Erdoğan began his career in Islamist-leaning parties and became mayor of Istanbul in 1994. He co-founded the Justice and Development Party (AKP), which won the 2002 elections, and served as prime minister from 2003 until 2014, a period of rapid economic growth and expanded infrastructure. In 2014 he became the country's first president elected by popular vote, and a 2017 referendum replaced the parliamentary system with a strong executive presidency. Supporters credit him with modernizing the economy and extending the state's reach, while critics point to restrictions on the press, the judiciary and opposition after the failed coup attempt of 2016.
Before and after
- 22 January 1954Establishment of Teide National Park
- 29 January 1954Birth of Oprah Winfrey
- 18 February 1954Birth of John Travolta
- 23 February 1954Birth of Viktor Yushchenko
- 26 February 1954Birth of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
- 4 March 1954Birth of François Fillon
- 7 April 1954Birth of Jackie Chan
- 1 May 1954Origins of Unification Church
- 6 May 1954Roger Bannister runs the first sub-four-minute mile
More in Wars, politics & history
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- 26 July 1953Cuban Revolution
- from 14 October 1962 to 28 October 1962Cuban Missile Crisis
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- from 2 April 1982 to 14 June 1982Falklands War
- 5 November 20242024 United States presidential election
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.