mustafa bülent ecevit (28 may 1925 – 5 november 2006) was a turkish politician, poet, writer, scholar, and journalist. he served as the prime minister of turkey four times between 1974 and 2002. he served as prime minister of turkey in 1974, 1977, 1978–79, and 1999–2002. he was the leader of the republican people's party (chp) between 1972 and 1980, and in 1989 he became the leader of the democratic left party (dsp).