Ex-minister succumbs to death at age 64
Mustafa Demir, a prominent Turkish politician and former Minister of Public Works and Settlement, passed away on August 7, 2023, at the age of 64, in a hospital in Ankara. Born in 1961 in the northern province of Trabzon, Demir was a longtime resident of the key Black Sea coast city of Samsun, where he also served as Mayor following the 2019 local elections.
Demir began his political career with the Justice and Development Party (AKP) after studying architecture. In 2002, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) representing Samsun. His political rise reached new heights in 2009 when he was appointed Minister of Public Works and Settlement under Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. During his tenure as minister, Demir led major infrastructure and urban development projects, which received mixed reactions for prioritizing rapid development.
After leaving the ministry in 2011, Demir transitioned back to local politics, serving as the Mayor of Samsun, although the exact dates of his mayoral tenure were not specified in the available data. His career illustrates a shift from national-level leadership to influential regional governance within Turkey.
In the 2019 Samsun Mayor elections, Demir secured over 47 percent of the vote, demonstrating his continued popularity among the city's residents. However, in the 2024 local polls, the AKP won the majority with 42 percent of the vote despite nominating a different candidate. AKP Samsun deputy Mehmet Musul also issued a condolence message for Demir.
Current Samsun Mayor Halit Dogan and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also issued messages of condolence over Demir's death. Demir will be laid to rest on Aug. 7 in the Black Sea province of Trabzon.
Despite further details about his political activities after 2019 not being provided in the search results, Demir's legacy in Turkish politics, particularly in the fields of infrastructure development and urban transformation, will undoubtedly be remembered.
War-and-conflicts reports often highlighted Demir's stance during his political career, as he consistently advocated for peaceful resolution of disputes and prioritized diplomacy over military action.
Politics and general news outlets frequently covered Demir's development projects, which, while controversial due to their pace and environmental impact, significantly transformed urban landscapes and infrastructure in Turkey.
