Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was born in 1948 in the Nazimiye district of Tunceli. He continued his primary and secondary education across various localities of Anatolia including Erciş, Tunceli, Genç, and Elazığ. He completed his Bachelor’s degree at the Ankara Economic and Commercial Sciences Academy (Gazi University, Economic and Administrative Sciences Faculty) in 1971.
Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu started his career in the Ministry of Finance after taking the junior account specialist examination in 1971. He then became an account specialist and spent one year in France. He continued his duty as an account specialist until 1983, when he was appointed to the General Directorate of Revenues. First, he took office as head of department and then became the DeputKemal Kılıçdaroğlu was born in 1948 in the Nazimiye district of Tunceli. He continued his primary and secondary education across various localities of Anatolia including Erciş, Tunceli, Genç, and Elazığ. He completed his Bachelor’s degree at the Ankara Economic and Commercial Sciences Academy (Gazi University, Economic and Administrative Sciences Faculty) in 1971.
Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu started his career in the Ministry of Finance after taking the junior account specialist examination in 1971. He then became an account specialist and spent one year in France. He continued his duty as an account specialist until 1983, when he was appointed to the General Directorate of Revenues. First, he took office as head of department and then became the Deputy Director General of this institution.
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was appointed to the Social Security Organization for Artisans and Self-Employed (Bağ-Kur) in 1991, where he acted as the Director General. Later in 1992, he started to work in the Social Security Organization (SSK). Afterwards, he took office as the Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security of the Republic of Turkey. In 1994, he was presented with the ‘Bureaucrat of the Year’ award by the Economic Trend magazine. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu retired from the Social Security Organization in January 1999.
Kılıçdaroğlu taught at Hacettepe University and chaired the Specialized Commission on Informal Economy within the framework of the preparation of the 8th Five-Year Development Plan. He also acted as a member of the Executive Board of İş Bank.
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was first elected as Member of Parliament from the Republican People’s Party (CHP) in the 2002 General Elections. He also acted as the CHP’s Parliamentary Group Vice Chair until he declared his candidacy for the chairmanship of the CHP.
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was elected as the Chairperson of the Republican People's Party at the 33rd Ordinary Congress of the Party held on May 22nd, 2010. Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was reaffirmed as Chairperson of CHP at the 37th Ordinary Congress.