Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, born on February 26, 1954, in Istanbul, Turkey, has been the dominant figure in Turkish politics for over two decades. He served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2014 and has been President since 2014. Erdogan rose to prominence as Mayor of Istanbul in 1994. He co-founded the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2001, which won a landslide victory in 2002. Under his leadership, Turkey experienced significant economic growth, infrastructure development, and increased international influence. He oversaw major constitutional changes transforming Turkey from a parliamentary to a presidential system. Supporters credit him with modernizing Turkey's economy and infrastructure while critics raise concerns about press freedom and democratic institutions. Despite controversies, Erdogan remains one of the most influential leaders in the Middle East and Muslim world.