Turkish economist and politician (1908–1967)
Nedim Ökmen (1908–1967) was a Turkish economist and politician who held various cabinet posts during the premiership of Adnan Menderes in the 1950s.
Early life and education
Ökmen was born in Kilis in 1908.[1] After completing his primary education in his hometown he attended Istanbul High School and graduated in 1927.[2] He received a degree from the Faculty of Political Sciences of Istanbul University.[1] In 1938 he was sent to France for inspection training.[2]
Career
Following his graduation from Istanbul University Ökmen was employed at the Ministry of Finance as an assistant financial inspector.[1] After returning to Turkey in 1933 when he completed his studies in France he continued to work at the ministry and became a financial inspector in 1935.[1] He began to serve as a chief inspector from 1945.[2] His term ended in 1950 when he started his political career being a member of the Democrat Party.[1] He was elected as a deputy from Maraş in the general election held on 14 May 1950.[1] Ökmen was also elected to the Parliament in the general elections in 1954 and 1957 from Gaziantep.[1]
Cabinet posts
Ökmen was appointed minister of agriculture to the second cabinet of Prime Minister Adnan Menderes on 10 March 1951 and was in office until 9 December 1954.[3] Ökmen held the same post in the next cabinet between 17 May 1954 and 1955.[1][4]
Ökmen was appointed minister of finance to the Menderes's new cabinet on 9 December 1955.[5] Ökmen resigned from the post in 1956 due to his disagreements with Menderes.[2]
Ökmen was named as the minister of agriculture on 26 December 1957 and was in office until 27 May 1960 when the government was overthrown by a military coup.[3]
Later years and death
Ökmen was arrested along with other Democrat Party politicians following the coup.[1] He was tried by the Supreme Court of Justice in Yassıada and sentenced to twenty years in prison.[1] Ökmen was found guilty due to the cases about the sale of an Afghan hound which had been given by the Afghan King to President Celal Bayar as a gift and about the illegal sale of a land owned by his wife.[6] Due to health problems, he was released from prison on 22 September 1964.[1]
Ökmen died in Istanbul on 2 February 1967.[1][2]
References