SULTAN YAVUZ- Implemented by the Association of Journalists and implemented by the European Union, the Media for Democracy/Democracy for Media Project (M4D) hosted Gülsün Bilgehan at the Press House in Ankara. In her presentation titled “İnönü” Bilgehan talked about her late grandfather İsmet İnönü, second president of Turkey, and his approach to democracy and the media.
Association of Journalists Chairman Nazmi Bilgin remarked that it was the anniversary of İnönü’s death in his opening speech and shared this memory: “I couldn’t ask İnönü a question because in the first few years of the profession we were taught to first listen and then ask questions.  Yet I remember holding the microphone to him, it was a very happy moment for me…
My father had many memories of İsmet Pasha, and despite being members of different political parties my father had a lot of respect for him. I’d like to tell you about a memory; I was quite young and new in the profession. My father and I were quite distant but despite that I once said ‘Father, your opposition to İsmet Pasha is not sufficient”. He turned to me and said ‘sit down’ and took off his overcoat as he was just about to leave. I recall his last sentence ‘Son, one does not simply oppose İsmet Pasha, he has too many medals’. I’m very fond of this memory, the more I live the more I realize how much my father valued İsmet İnönü”.

Ülman “Bilgehan: someone right in the middle of politics and journalism”
Following Chairman Bilgin, M4D Assistant Project Director Seva Ülman gave brief biographical information about Bilgehan: “The grandchild of İsmet İnönü and the daugther Metin Toker, Bilgehan is someone who is right in the middle of journalism and politics”. Reminding the audience that Bilgehan’s husband Mustafa Bilgehan is also a press member Ülman remarked that Bilgehan’s daughter Zeynep is still a correspondent in a famous newspaper. Born in Ankara, Bilgehan is a graduate of the Paris Institute of Political Science, Department of International Relations and was elected as a member of parliament for CHP in 2002. Bilgehan also worked at the Council of Europe in which she served as the chair of the Gender Opportunities Equality Commission.
Bilgehan was awarded the “Abdi İpekçi Award” for her two-volume book “Mevhibe” and “Female Writer of the Year” too. Bilgehan was elected as general vice president for CHP in 2010 and remained in this position until 2011 during which she was elected as an MP for CHP. Ülman stated that Bilgehan was elected as an MP for CHP once again in 2015 and served as chairperson for the İsmet İnönü Foundation for one term.
Bilgehan “I was born into politics”
Stating that the universal problems of journalism still continue, Gülsün Bilgehan started her speech by quoting her father Metin Toker who said “Provided that it is done humanely, journalism is the greatest profession in the world”. Remarking that she grew up among politicians and journalists, Bilgehan’s father Metin Toke (founder of Akis magazine) was arrested 15 days before she was born. Many intellectuals like her father Metin Toker spent time in Ulucanlar Prison, therefore her grandfather İsmet İnönü wanted to name her “Gülsün” because it means “one that always smiles” in Turkish.
Stating that her father Metin Toker had many important resources regarding the history of the Republic and the press, Bilgehan said she did her first internship in Akis magazine. While in primary school Bilgehan mentioned she would make corrections on the magazines and couldn’t forget the distinctive smell of printing houses in the 1960s. When Bilgehan was 13 she also wrote a travel piece titiled “Beş Çocuk, Beş Gün Karadeniz” for Milliyet newspaper. Following graduating from university Bilgehan returned to Turkey where she worked for Hurriyet newspaper under Erol Simavi and on Rüzgarlı Street for two years. Mentioning she met her husband during this period Bilgehan said “He was the son of opposition Justice Party member Cihat Bilgehan, but we fell in love and gote married in the chaotic atmosphere following the 1980 coup. There were people from CHP and True Path Party, people from all walks of life at the wedding”.
Describing the times she took care of her children the past years of her life Bilgehan was elected as a deputy for CHP in 2002. Reminding the audience her uncle Erdal inönü and father had worked for the European Council too, Bilgehan remarked that she not only worked in the Anti-Discrimination and Equality Commission but also in the Culture and Media department.
Bilgehan stated her father’s magazine Akis would give place to all kinds of opinions and belifes and said “One day my father met İnönü at the Pink Villa, his reason was to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage. He was about 30 years old… My grandfather İnönü gives his blessing but says ‘They’re are going to bad things to you because of this. Indeed, my father spent two years in prison.