Erbakan, Necmettin
(b. 1926 )
Turkish politician. Elected to the National Assembly from Konya in 1969 . In 1970 founded the neo-Islamist Milli Nizam Partisi (MNP, National Order Party), which called for a spiritual reawakening combined with technical development programs; it was banned from politics in 1972 . Served as deputy prime minister in three coalition governments ( 1973 – 78 ) in the Milli Selamet Partisi (MSP, National Salvation Party). The formulation of an Islamist political program within the limits of parliamentary democracy owes much to Erbakan. He has been a major influence in the formation of the MNP, MSP, and the Refah Partisi (Welfare Party).
See also Welfare Party