Istanbul City Government Overview

MAYOR

Kadir Topbas was born in Artvin / Yusufeli in 1945. He graduated from Marmara University- Faculty of Theology in 1972, and Mimar Sinan University-Department of Architecture in 1974. Topbas earned his Ph.D degree from Istanbul University-Department of Art History and Archeology, with a study on "Hidiv Kasrı and its place in Bosphorus civilian architecture". Topbas worked as an architect for many years.

Between 1994-1998, Kadir Topbas worked as an adviser for Recep Tayyip Erdogan, when Erdogan was the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. During this period, he contributed to the restoration of the municipal palaces-summer palaces and historic buildings. Topbas also served as the deputy director of Istanbul 1st Cultural Heritage Protection and Monuments Committee of the Ministry of Culture.

Kadir Topbas became the Mayor of Beyoglu in 1999. During this period, he managed to implement the "Güzel Beyoğlu" ("Beautiful Beyoglu") Project.

Within the scope of "Urban Transformation and Social Rehabilitation" studies (in which he drew the architectural project), Topbas put a gymnasium-educational and social facilities complex into service, in Kasımpasa.

Topbas became a candidate for the Mayorship of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality from AK Party in the 28 March 2004 Local Elections, and won with vast majority.

Metropolitan Executive Committee:

The metropolitan executive committee is both an organ of decision taking and execution, and an advisory body of the municipality. There is no elected member in the committee other than the mayor. The committee, headed either by the mayor or someone to be assigned by the mayor, is made up of the secretary general and heads of units of construction, public works, legal affairs and accounting, and personnel.