--- title: Besim Tibuk slug: besim-tibuk-d09b2 url: /detay/besim-tibuk-d09b2 type: biography language: English entity: primary: Besim Tibuk type: biography disambiguation: Besim Tibuk: Turkish liberal economist, entrepreneur & LDP founder. Advocate for free markets & privatization. categories: - name: Business And Management slug: isletme-ve-yonetim url: /kategori/isletme-ve-yonetim - name: Politics And International Relations slug: siyaset-ve-uluslararasi-iliskiler url: /kategori/siyaset-ve-uluslararasi-iliskiler tags: - besim tibuk - ldp - politician author: Meryem Şentürk Çoban created_at: 2025-04-14T09:29:27.579363+03:00 updated_at: 2025-04-17T09:40:22.944520+03:00 image: https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/04/14/Ifq5MJLstkFl9iYcmE7qpKBUEGpMxqDq.jpg --- # Besim Tibuk > Besim Tibuk is a businessman and politician in Türkiye who advocates liberal thought and is the founder of the Liberal Democratic Party. ## KURE Information Cards ### KURE Information Card: Besim Tibuk ![Liberal_party_president_besim_tibuk_croped.png](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/04/14/r7FJaZOo2OcFwFaJeLFLRuX2FoMwWe4Y.png) | Field | Value | |-------|-------| | Place of Birth(Text) | Rize, Türkiye | | Date of Birth(Text) | April 14, 1945 | | Political Activities | 1994: Candidate for Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, 1999: Participated in the General Elections with the Liberal Democratic Party (0.5% of the vote), 2002: Resigned from LDP leadership and withdrew from active politics | | Political Ideology | Classical Liberalism, Free Market Economy, Minimal State, Individual Freedom | | Profession(s) | Businessman,Tourism Entrepreneur,Politician | | Education | University of Hannover - Germany (Economics),Istanbul University - Faculty of Economics | ## Article Content **Besim Tibuk** is known as one of the figures who brought liberal economic thought into the political arena in Türkiye. He gained prominence in the business world through his initiatives in the tourism sector and is also the founder and first chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Especially in the 1990s, Tibuk attracted public attention with his political statements, drawing reactions from various circles due to both his private sector experience and his political discourse based on liberal ideas. ### **Youth and Education** Besim Tibuk was born in 1945 in the Fındıklı district of Rize. Due to his father's civil service career, he spent his childhood in various provinces. After attending primary school in Murgul, he began secondary school in [Kars](/en/detay/kars-2/llms.txt) and completed his high school education [at](/en/detay/at-3/llms.txt) Kabataş Erkek Lisesi in Istanbul. He pursued his university studies abroad and studied economics at the University of Hannover in Germany. Later, he returned to Türkiye and graduated from the Faculty of Economics at [Istanbul University](/en/detay/istanbul-university-2/llms.txt). During his student years—particularly while abroad—he became acquainted with liberal economic thought and engaged in extensive readings on the subject. ### **Career and Achievements** Tibuk began his professional career as a tour guide. In the 1970s, he entered the tourism sector and later founded Net Holding, making significant investments in the hospitality and tourism industries. Through this company, he carried out tourism projects in areas such as [Antalya](/en/detay/antalya-2/llms.txt), [Bodrum](/en/detay/bodrum-2/llms.txt), and Kuşadası. Over time, Net Holding became one of Türkiye’s leading tourism companies. Embracing [an](/en/detay/an-2/llms.txt) entrepreneurial and private-sector-oriented approach, Tibuk voiced his opinions on the development of a free-[market](/en/detay/market-749842/llms.txt) economy in various platforms in Türkiye. ### **Political Career** In the 1980s, Tibuk attracted attention with his public statements in support of liberal economics. Seeking to translate these ideas into politics, he founded the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in 1994. The party’s platform was based on individual freedoms, private property, low taxation, and free-market principles. One of the party’s slogans was “the state should shrink, the individual should grow.” Tibuk ran for mayor of Istanbul in the 1994 local elections, drawing the public’s attention through his remarks during televised debates, although he failed to achieve significant voter support. He also participated in the 1999 general elections with the LDP, but after the party secured only 0.5% of the vote, Tibuk resigned from the party leadership in 2002 and announced his withdrawal from active politics. He was succeeded by [Cem](/en/detay/cem-2/llms.txt) Toker as party chairman. Tibuk’s political discourse was particularly noted for his sharp criticism of the state’s role in the economy. With statements like “the state does not produce,” he advocated for the privatization of state economic enterprises and contributed to making liberalism more visible in Türkiye’s political rhetoric. ### **Intellectual Contributions** Tibuk’s political and intellectual contributions are significant for the representation of liberalism in Türkiye. He promoted a program that supported the withdrawal of the state from the economy, the privatization of public enterprises, tax reductions, and the expansion of individual freedoms. These ideas formed the foundation of LDP’s institutional identity. Tibuk is considered one of the figures who helped the term “liberal” gain ideological meaning in the Turkish context. ### **Later Years** After retiring from active politics, Tibuk became less prominent in the public eye and focused on his business activities. He continued his investments under Net Holding and occasionally shared political commentary. In rare interviews with the [press](/en/detay/press-d1304/llms.txt), he expressed criticisms concerning the Turkish economy, education system, and politics. ## Academic Sources and References 1. Aydoğdu, Aydoğan. "Tibuk, Besim." Türkiye Turizm Ansiklopedisi. Access Date: 11.04.2025. https://turkiyeturizmansiklopedisi.com/tibuk-besimLiberal Demokrat Parti (LDP). "Besim Tibuk." Access Date: 11.04.2025. https://www.ldp.org.tr/index.php/besim-tibuk/Net Holding AŞ. "Yönetim Kurulu." Access Date: 11.04.2025. https://www.netholding.com/net-grubu/yonetim-kurulu-ve-ust-yonetimYeni Akit. "Besim Tibuk kimdir?" Yeni Akit. Access Date: 11.04.2025. https://www.yeniakit.com.tr/biyografi/besim-tibuk