Overview
İrsen Küçük (1940 – 10 March 2019) was a Turkish Cypriot politician who played a prominent role in the politics of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). He is best known for serving as Prime Minister of Northern Cyprus between 2010 and 2013. Küçük belonged to the Turkish Cypriot political tradition and was a public figure for several decades. He was also the nephew of Dr. Fazıl Küçük, the first Vice‑President of the Republic of Cyprus after independence.
Early life and family
Küçük was born in 1940 into a family with an established political profile in Cyprus. His uncle, Fazıl Küçük, was a leading Turkish Cypriot statesman in the mid‑20th century. İrsen Küçük’s background linked him to the island’s modern political history and to the community that later formed the TRNC. He identified as Turkish Cypriot and was active in local public life for many years.
Political career
Küçük was a long‑time participant in Cypriot politics and a prominent member of the National Unity Party (UBP), a centre‑right political party in the Turkish Cypriot community. Over the course of his career he held senior roles within his party and in coalition governments. His experience and party standing led to his selection as head of the executive government in 2010.
- Prominent member of the National Unity Party (UBP)
- Served in several government roles before becoming prime minister
- Linked by family ties to earlier generations of Turkish Cypriot leadership
Premiership (2010–2013)
As Prime Minister, Küçük led the TRNC government during a period that included economic and diplomatic challenges. The TRNC, self‑declared in 1983 and recognized only by Turkey, relies heavily on political relations across the island and with Ankara; these realities shaped the priorities of his administration. His tenure ended in 2013 following political shifts and debates within the Assembly and among party ranks.
Death and legacy
İrsen Küçük died on 10 March 2019 in North Nicosia, Northern Cyprus, aged 79. Reports stated the cause as heart failure. His passing was noted across the Turkish Cypriot community and in discussions of the island’s political history. Observers remember him as a significant contemporary figure who bridged older generations—linked to leaders such as Fazıl Küçük—and the political debates of the early 21st century.
Notable facts
Key points about İrsen Küçük include his role as a senior politician in Northern Cyprus, his family connection to a founding-era leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, and his association with mainstream centre‑right politics in the TRNC. His life and career are part of the broader story of Cypriot division and the ongoing political efforts to manage governance on the island.
For context on the political community he represented see entries on Cypriot political life and the parties active in the TRNC.