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Yigit Bulut, one of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s top economic advisors, died on Friday after a long battle with cancer.
Bulut had been receiving treatment in intensive care in recent weeks, with his condition reported as critical. President Erdogan also visited Bulut recently at the hospital earlier this week.
Bulut was known for his influential role in shaping Türkiye’s economic policy in recent years, drawing attention with his controversial statements that raised eyebrows in Türkiye's business circles.
Following the news of his death, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a message of condolence, expressing his deep sorrow over Bulut’s passing.
“I have learned with deep sorrow of the passing of Yiğit Bulut, one of our Chief Advisors and a member of the Economic Policies Board, as well as a valued colleague,” Erdogan said. “I extend my condolences to his family, loved ones, and all his colleagues. May he rest in peace.”
Bulut's funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the Presidency in the coming days.
Born in 1972 in the northwestern town of Kesan, Bulut was educated at Galatasaray High School before studying banking and finance at Bilkent University. He later completed a master’s degree at Sorbonne University in Paris. His father, Mustafa Bulut, had served as a member of parliament in 1977 with the Justice Party. Bulut began his professional life as an economics commentator for Turkish television channels such as Kanal 6, Kanal E, and CNN Turk. He also contributed as a columnist to prominent newspapers including Radikal, Vatan, and Referans, focusing on finance and economic policy. He produced and hosted programs like Parametre and Finans Analiz, and briefly lectured at Dogus University.
His career in media management began when he was appointed as editor-in-chief of Haberturk TV in 2009, a position he held until January 2012. Bulut entered the political sphere in July 2013 when he was appointed as a chief advisor to the then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
In August 2014, he was promoted to Senior Advisor to the President, focusing on economic affairs. He remained in this position until his passing. In recent weeks, reports had emerged suggesting that Bulut was battling a serious illness.
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