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Fahrettin Altun (Politician)
Fahrettin Altun (born 11 September 1976, Stuttgart, Germany) is a Turkish politician, researcher, academic, and member of the Justice and Development Party. He is currently the head of media and communications in the Turkish presidency.
President Erdoğan often chooses Altun over his own spokesman, Ibrahim Kalın, to make critical statements and manage his social media presence. This makes Altun a significant figure in the Presidency. He is known for his close ties with Berat Albayrak, former Economy Minister and Erdoğan’s son-in-law, and his family.
Stuttgart, Germany
| Fahrettin Altun (Politician) | |
| 11 September 1976 | |
| Date of Birth | 11 September 1976 |
| Birth Place | Stuttgart, Germany |
| Political Party | Kurdistan Workers’ Party |
| Education | Department of Sociology |
| College | Istanbul University |
| Spouse | Fatmanur Altun |
| Nationality | German, Turkey |
| Website | http://iletisim.gov.tr/ |
Early Life and Education
Altun studied sociology at Istanbul University, graduating in 1998. He pursued further studies at Mimar Sinan University and received his PhD from Istanbul University in 2006. His doctoral thesis was titled “A Comparative Analysis of Media Theories of McLuhan and Baudrillard.” Additionally, he has been involved with the Turkish government think tank, the Foundation for Political, Economic, and Social Research (SETA).
Professional Career
Fahrettin Altun was the Head of the Department of Communication at Istanbul Şehir University from 2008 to 2014. He then joined Istanbul Medeniyet University as a faculty member from 2015 to 2017. Altun also served as the chief editor of the magazine Kriter and was a commentator on the state-owned television channel TRT. He has written for prominent Turkish newspapers such as Sabah, Daily Sabah, and Akşam, and worked as an editor for Yöneliş and Küre publishing houses.
Political Career
Altun’s political career has seen a rapid rise within the Turkish government. President Erdoğan frequently chooses him over his spokesman Ibrahim Kalın for critical statements and social media management, making Altun a key figure in the Presidency. He is known for his close association with former Economy Minister and Erdoğan’s son-in-law, Berat Albayrak, and his family.
Altun has been vocal on various international issues. He criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for his remarks on ‘separatist Islam’ following terrorist attacks in France, calling them “yet another example of a desperate European politician vying for relevance.” He also compared European attitudes towards Muslims to the demonization of Jews in the 1920s. In domestic politics, following a raid on the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) office in Esenyurt, Altun equated the HDP with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
Career Statistics
| Presidential Spokesperson – President of the Directorate of Communications | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office | 25 July 2018 |
| Deputy | Recep Tayyip Erdoğan |
| Preceded | Office established |
Other Information
In recent years, Fahrettin Altun has played an increasingly prominent role in shaping the Turkish government’s communication strategies. His influence extends to overseeing media operations and public relations efforts, ensuring the administration’s messages are effectively conveyed domestically and internationally.
Altun’s tenure has seen the implementation of sophisticated media campaigns and a focus on digital platforms to reach a broader audience. He has also been a key figure in managing the government’s response to international criticism and promoting Turkey’s interests on the global stage.









