Biography - Third President Dr. Derviş Eroğlu
Dr. Derviş EROĞLU was born in 1938 in the village of Ergazi, in the district of Famagusta.
After completing his primary and secondary education in Cyprus, he continued his education at Istanbul University Department of Medicine and graduated in 1963. He completed his internship at Ankara General Hospital and went on to specialise in urology.
He worked at Famagusta State Hospital from 1972 to 1976.
In the 1976 general elections in North Cyprus, he was elected Member of Parliament for the National Unity Party (UBP) in Famagusta. He served as Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport between 1976 and1977.
Between 1977 and 1983, he served as Leader of his party for the District of Famagusta.
He was Chairman of the Turkish Cooperative Bank for the Famagusta District from 1972 to 1982.
In 1983, he became one of the Members of the Constituent Assembly for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. In December 1983, he was elected Chairman of the National Unity Party.
He was elected Member of the TRNC Legislative Assembly in Famagusta in 9 consecutive general elections between 1981 and 2009.
Following 1985 general elections, he became Prime Minister and remained in this position until 1993.
After the general elections in 1993, he continued his political life as the main opposition party leader.
On 16 August 1996, he once again became Prime Minister in the coalition government of the National Unity Party and the Democrat Party until December 1998.
He found himself once again Prime Minister, after the general elections of 6 December 1998, of the coalition government of the National Unity Party and the Communal Liberation Party from 31.12.1998 – 8.6.2001, and continued to serve as Prime Minister in the coalition government ofthe National Unity Party and the Democrat Party between 8.6.2001 and 13.01.2004.
He was re-elected Chairman of the National Unity Party on 29 November 2008.
When early general elections were held on 19 April 2009, having secured the majority with 26 seats in Parliament, he once again became Prime Minister and formed the National Unity Party Government under his leadership.
On 18 April 2010, he became the third President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.