as a co-founder and a board member of the Justice and Development Party and was elected to parliament as deputy for Ankara on 3 November 2002. He was appointed Minister of Economy on 18 November 2002 and became the youngest member of the cabinet, then at the age of 35. On 24 May 2005 Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced his appointment as chief negotiator in Turkey's accession talks with the European Union, which started on 3 October 2005. As government minister Babacan attended several international meetings including the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and the Bilderberg Group. In 2019, Babacan left the ruling AKP, citing "deep differences" over the party's direction as a reason. Leader of the DEVA (2020–present) Babacan confirmed his intent to form this party in a late 2019 interview with journalist Şirin Payzın of T24, and expects his party to be a "mainstream party" with particular focuses on minority rights, a return to Turkey's parliamentary system, fair processes in courts and legislation, and restoring freedom of speech and expression. Babacan is quoted as saying that "the nation will give our party its name". On 9 March 2020, he founded Democracy and Progress Party, abbreviated as "DEVA" or "remedy" in Turkish. The DEVA Party held its first meeting of the Board of Founders on 10 March 2020, where he was unanimously elected Chairman. References External links Biography at Biyografi.info |- |- 1967 births Living people Deputies of Ankara Deputy Prime Ministers of Turkey Kellogg School of Management alumni Justice and Development Party (Turkey) politicians Democracy and Progress Party politicians Middle East Technical University alumni Ministers of Economic Affairs of Turkey Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Turkey People from Ankara TED Ankara College Foundation Schools alumni Members of the 24th Parliament of Turkey Members of the 23rd Parliament of Turkey Members of the 22nd Parliament of Turkey Members of the 26th Parliament of Turkey Ministers of State of Turkey Members of the 60th government of Turkey Turkish political party founders Fulbright alumni