Köksal Toptan

Who is Köksal Toptan?

Köksal Toptan is a Turkish lawyer, politician and a member of the Justice and Development Party. He earlier served as government minister in three cabinets. He was the speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey between August 2007 and August 2009.

He was educated in the Faculty of Law at Istanbul University. He worked as a lawyer following his graduation. Köksal Toptan entered politics first at regional level in Zonguldak. Later, he was elected to the parliament as Deputy of Zonguldak and Bartın. He served as Minister of State in the 6th Süleyman Demirel cabinet, as Minister of National Education in the 7th Demirel cabinet and then as Minister of Culture in the 2nd Tansu Çiller cabinet. During the government of Justice and Development Party, he was the chairman of the parliament commission of justice between 2003-2007.

Elected as deputy of Zonguldak from the AK Party again in 2007, he was nominated by his party for the post of Speaker of the Parliament on August 8, 2007. On August 9, 2007, Köksal Toptan was elected 23rd Speaker of the parliament, supported also by the opposition parties.