Davut Gul appointed as Governor of Istanbul in last minute decision
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan appointed Davut Gül as the new governor of Istanbul, according to a statement from the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications. Gül is a 47-year-old Turkish bureaucrat who was born in Horasan, Erzurum and graduated from the Near East University, Department of International Relations. He has served as a governor in various regions of Turkey, including Kırklareli-Kofçaz, Şirvan, Gördes, Şarkışla, Sivas, and most recently, Gaziantep.
Gül was also selected as the “District Governor of the Year” by the Turkish Administrators Association and won the Martyr District Governor Ersin Fire Award in 2009. He speaks English, is married, and has one child.
Gül’s appointment comes after the previous governor of Istanbul, Ali Yerlikaya, was appointed to the Ministry of Interior. This is a significant role for Gül, given Istanbul’s position as Turkey’s largest city and economic hub.
Along with Gül’s appointment, there have been other recent changes in Turkish government roles. Ibrahim Kalın was appointed as the new head of MIT, and Musa Avsever became the Chief of General Staff, while Haluk Görgün is now the President of the Defense Industry. These appointments all reflect changes in Turkish politics and the country’s leadership.
