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Hamit Karakus

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Hamit Karakus
Karakus in 2022
Member of the Senate
In office
2 March 2021 – 13 June 2023
Preceded byJopie Nooren
Alderman in Rotterdam
In office
18 May 2006[1] – 24 March 2014
Preceded byMarco Pastors
Succeeded byRonald Schneider
Member of the Rotterdam municipal council
In office
19 March 2010[2] – 27 May 2010[3]
Personal details
Born
Hamit Karakus

(1965-02-22) 22 February 1965 (age 59)
Kırşehir, Turkey
Political partyLabour Party
SpouseEmine Deniz
Children3
Alma materPolitieschool De Cloese

Hamit Karakus (born 22 February 1965) is a Turkish-Dutch politician and police officer, who previously served as a member of the Senate and as an alderman in Rotterdam. He is a member of the Labour Party (PvdA).

Born in Turkey, Karakus grew up in Steenwijk and later moved to Rotterdam to work as a police officer. After ten years of service and reaching the rank of police sergeant, he became deputy director of a real estate brokerage firm in 1998. He continued working there until he was appointed Rotterdam's alderman of housing and spatial planning in 2006. He resigned from that position eight years later, after his party had suffered losses in the 2014 municipal election with Karakus as lijsttrekker.

He subsequently became CEO of the organizations Platform31 and IVO and served as a senator between 2021 and 2023. He was appointed chief of the North Holland police in September 2023.

Early life and career

[edit]

He was born in 1965 in the Turkish city Kırşehir. He lived in the surrounding countryside, where his parents worked as farmers. Karakus has two brothers and two sisters. His father moved to Western Europe as a migrant worker in the late 1960s and his family joined him in 1973 in the Overijssel city Steenwijk, where Karakus's father worked in a carpet factory.[4]

He attended an lts high school in Steenwijk, where he was trained in metalworking, between 1979 and 1983.[4] His teacher had recommended a havo level education, but Karakus's father preferred a vocational education for his son.[5] Karakus subsequently worked at a warehouse of Heuga, the carpet factory that also employed his father.[4][6]

He followed training to become a policeman at De Cloese in the Gelderland town Lochem in the years 1987–88.[4][7] Thereafter, Karakus joined the Rotterdam-Rijnmond police force, working for seven years as an officer in the northern part of Rotterdam and for three years as a police sergeant in the nearby city Schiedam.[5] He was also involved in investigating organized crime, and he served as a Turkish interpreter and a spokesperson about extortion by the Kurdistan Workers' Party. Furthermore, he promoted the Dutch Police Union between 1991 and 1994.[4]

Karakus left the police in 1998 to work for the real estate brokerage firm Atta Makelaars as deputy director. He continued working there until he became an alderman in 2006.[8]

Alderman (2006–2014)

[edit]
Karakus in 2009

Appointment and first term

[edit]

In May 2006, Karakus was appointed alderman of housing and spatial planning in Rotterdam's new municipal executive.[8] Called a political newcomer by De Volkskrant, Karakus's only political experience was serving as the Labour Party's vice-chair in Rotterdam since a number of years.[5][6] He had become a member of the Labour Party in 2002 in reaction to the rise of politician Pim Fortuyn.[6] Karakus was a proponent of adding skyscrapers to the city's skyline and was focused on dealing with slumlords, mortgage fraud, and nuisance from Eastern European migrant workers.[6][9]

Under his leadership, Rotterdam continued its policy of keeping out new renters living off welfare in certain disadvantaged neighborhoods to prevent their deterioration – known as the Rotterdamwet.[10] The municipality also purchased all properties in Rotterdam owned by real estate investor Cees Engel, worth over €10 million, as the municipality was dissatisfied with Engel's practices. Besides, the deal prohibited Engel from acquiring new buildings in the region in the future.[11] To tackle problems surrounding the housing of Eastern European migrant workers, Karakus organized a summit for municipalities in December 2007.[12] The following year, Rotterdam announced that in disadvantaged neighborhoods a maximum of two people with different last names could be registered per house to prevent overcrowding, and it announced that office buildings and buildings due for demolition would be converted into housing for Eastern Europeans.[13]

After the financial crisis of 2007–2008 had broken out, Karakus and finance alderman Lucas Bolsius provided €200 million for purchasing the land under construction projects to give developers the funds to continue the projects.[14] Later that year, Karakus established a new policy under which housing corporations could evict and refuse renters who have repeatedly disturbed their neighborhood.[15]

Second term and 2014 election

[edit]

Karakus wanted to become the Labour Party's lijsttrekker in Rotterdam in the 2010 municipal election, but he lost in a three-way election among members of the party to fellow alderman Dominic Schrijer. Karakus received 40% of the vote.[16] He was eventually elected to the municipal council as the PvdA's second candidate.[17] He stayed on as an alderman in the new executive after the election and thus automatically resigned from the municipal council in May 2010. His nomination as alderman was not supported by the members of Livable Rotterdam, who Karakus had accused of sowing hatred and division during the campaign.[18]

He continued his fight against slumlords in his second term, successfully calling on the national government to make it easier for the municipality to prohibit such landlords from renting and to expropriate their properties.[19][20] In late 2012, internal documents were leaked to the media which raised doubts about the fire safety of Islamic boarding schools. Municipal councilors criticized Karakus for not having closed them, but Karakus said that they were safe enough. The municipality filed a criminal complaint because of the leak.[21] Karakus became deputy mayor of Rotterdam next to his position as alderman in April 2013, when alderwoman Jantine Kriens resigned from that position.[22] An apartment building specifically for Eastern European migrants (Polenhotel) in Rotterdam was opened in early 2014 under Karakus's leadership to combat bad housing conditions.[23]

In September 2013, Karakus announced his candidacy for the Labour Party's lijsttrekker in the 2014 Rotterdam municipal election.[24] Karakus won the leadership election from his two opponents with 45% of the vote.[25] Later in the year, an inhabitant of Rotterdam, who was reported to have a conflict with the municipality over a building, was arrested for planning to have Karakus killed.[26] During the campaign, Karakus was criticized when he promised to a crowd in Turkish the construction of wedding halls, while the borough had the power to decide the issue.[27] In the 2014 election, the Labour Party lost six of its fourteen seats, causing the party to loose its plurality in the municipal council to Livable Rotterdam.[28] Karakus announced five days after the election that he would immediately quit as the PvdA's leader in Rotterdam, that he would resign as alderman, and that he would not accept his seat in the municipal council due to the election loss.[29] He received the Wolfert van Borselen medal from Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb during his farewell.[30]

Post-aldermanship

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Karakus became CEO of Platform31, which researches and gives advice about urban development, in September 2014.[31] Three and a half years later, in March 2018, he also became CEO of IVO, a research institute focussed on socially vulnerable groups, marking the beginning of a cooperation between IVO and Platform31.[32] Besides, Karakus joined a number of advisory and supervisory boards of organizations including the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, educational foundation Stichting BOOR, Stichting Nederlandse Register Vastgoed Taxateurs, and housing corporation Eigen Haard.[33][34][35]

Interior minister Kajsa Ollongren hired him in February 2019 in order to help governments and housing corporations make agreements about public housing in areas in which Vestia was active. Due to its financial problems, Vestia was unable to adequately invest in public housing.[36] It was announced in 2020 that fifteen other housing corporations would take over about 10,000 Vestia properties with financial support from the government.[37]

Senate (2021–2023)

[edit]

Karakus appeared seventh of the Labour Party's party list in the 2019 Senate election and was not elected, as his party won six seats.[38] When Senator Jopie Nooren vacated her seat two years later because of a position at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Karakus filled the vacancy. He was sworn in on 2 March 2021 as the first Turkish-Dutch senator in Dutch parliamentary history, and he remained in all his other positions.[39][40] He was the Labour Party's spokesperson for water management, agriculture, nature, environment, infrastructure, animal welfare, fishery, public health, welfare, and sport, and he was a member of the following committees:[41][42]

  • Committee for Infrastructure, Water Management and Environment (vice-chair)
  • Committee for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy / Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality
  • Committee for Immigration and Asylum / JHA Council
  • Committee for Justice and Security
  • Committee for Health, Welfare and Sport

Karakus announced in July 2021 that he would leave Platform31 and IVO, and his successor was installed in February 2022.[43][44][45] Around that time, he became chair of a new independent five-member committee to advise the Rotterdam police on diversity, inclusivity, discrimination, and racism.[46] He also started serving as program director of a project to improve the Westwijk, a deprived neighborhood in Vlaardingen, in early 2022. Karakus called creating support for people living in poverty his first priority in solving its issues.[47] He decided to not run for re-election as senator in 2023. Broadcaster NOS reported that the party leadership had not followed the advice of the party committee by giving Karakus a worse spot on the party list.[48] His term ended on 13 June 2023.[35]

Chief of police

[edit]

Karakus was appointed chief of police for the province of North Holland on 1 September 2023. He became the first Turkish-Dutch person to occupy the office. The police force has 3,500 officers and is headquartered in Haarlem.[40]

Personal life

[edit]

Karakus lives in Rotterdam.[35] He is married to Emine Deniz, and they have two daughters and one son.[4][49] He has renounced his Turkish citizenship to avoid conscription.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Vergadering 18-05-2006" [Meeting 18-05-2006]. Gemeente Rotterdam (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Notulen raadsvergadering" [Minutes council meeting]. Gemeente Rotterdam (in Dutch). 20 April 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Notulen raadsvergadering" [Minutes council meeting]. Gemeente Rotterdam (in Dutch). 9 September 2010. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Duursma, Mark (12 June 2006). "Karakus rijdt altijd voorop" [Karakus is always driving in front]. NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Nicolasen, Lidy (18 February 2014). "Sociaal bewogen, maar niet ideologisch bevlogen" [Socially engaged, but not ideologically inspired]. De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e Wanders, John (7 July 2008). "Hamit Karakus: nieuwe politicus die kan luisteren" [Hamit Karakus: New politician who can listen]. De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Knuffelbeer met zwakke plek" [Cuddly bear with weak spot]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 15 November 2013. p. 2.
  8. ^ a b "Voor 'wij-zij'-denken is niet langer ruimte" [There is no longer room for us-versus-them thinking]. Trouw (in Dutch). 12 May 2006. pp. 2 and 3.
  9. ^ Hustinx, Stijn; Keunen, Yvonne (24 January 2009). "Hoog, hoger, hoogst" [Tall, taller, tallest]. AD/Rotterdams Dagblad (in Dutch). p. 12.
  10. ^ Hoogstad, Mark (18 January 2008). "Rotterdam blijft arme nieuwkomers weren" [Rotterdam continues to keep out poor newcomers]. NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  11. ^ El Barkany, Ludette (24 October 2007). "Rotterdam koopt na strijd grootste huisjesmelker uit" [Rotterdam buys out biggest slumlord after conflict]. Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Alleen met gecertificeerde uitzenders in zee" [Cooperate solely with certified temporary employment agencies]. De Volkskrant (in Dutch). ANP. 12 December 2007. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  13. ^ "R'dam beperkt huisvesting O-Europeanen" [Rotterdam restricts housing Eastern Europeans]. NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). 12 June 2008. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Rotterdam geeft bouw impuls van euro 200 mln" [Rotterdam gives construction sector €200 million stimulus]. Het Financieele Dagblad (in Dutch). 14 February 2009. p. 4.
  15. ^ "Schouder aan schouder ten strijde tegen asociale huurder" [Joining forces against antisocial renters]. AD/Rotterdams Dagblad (in Dutch). 30 June 2009. p. 8.
  16. ^ Wanders, John (16 November 2009). "PvdA Rotterdam kiest voor Schrijer" [Rotterdam Labour Party chooses Schrijer]. De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  17. ^ "Rotterdam". AD/Rotterdams Dagblad (in Dutch). 6 March 2010. p. 22.
  18. ^ "Oppositiepartij keert zich tegen wethouder Karakus" [Opposition party does not support alderman Karakus]. AD/Rotterdams Dagblad (in Dutch). 28 May 2010. p. 1.
  19. ^ Bakker, Maartje (6 April 2012). "Rotterdam wil uitbreiding wet om verpaupering tegen te gaan" [Rotterdam wants law to be expanded in order to fight impoverishment]. De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  20. ^ "Rotterdam verheugd met aanpak huisjesmelkers" [Rotterdam pleased with approach to tackle slumlords]. AD (in Dutch). ANP. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  21. ^ Hoogstad, Mark (11 February 2013). "Aangifte wegens lekken" [Criminal complaint because of leaking]. AD/Rotterdams Dagblad (in Dutch). p. 1.
  22. ^ "Hamit Karakus benoemd tot loco" [Hamit Karakus named deputy]. AD/Rotterdams Dagblad (in Dutch). 12 April 2013. p. 8.
  23. ^ "'Polenhotel' in Rotterdam geopend" [Polenhotel opened in Rotterdam]. NOS (in Dutch). 4 January 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  24. ^ Kooyman, Marjolein (30 September 2013). "Karakus toch kandidaat" [Karakus candidate after all]. AD/Rotterdams Dagblad (in Dutch). p. 4.
  25. ^ Hoogstad, Mark. "Politieke spanning in Rotterdam" [Political tensions in Rotterdam]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). p. 6.
  26. ^ "Rotterdammer dreigde wethouder te laten doden" [Rotterdam inhabitant threatened to have alderman killed]. Het Parool (in Dutch). 13 November 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  27. ^ Kamerman, Sheila (4 March 2014). "Vriendjespolitiek is er ook bij CDA en VVD" [Favoritism is also existent at CDA and VVD]. NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  28. ^ Dirks, Bas (20 March 2014). "Rotterdam is weer voor de Leefbaren" [Rotterdam again ruled by Livable Rotterdam]. De Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  29. ^ "PvdA-leider Hamit Karakus stapt op" [Labour Party leader Hamit Karakus resigns]. De Telegraaf (in Dutch). 25 March 2014. p. 11.
  30. ^ "Rotterdamse ex-wethouder Karakus onderscheiden" [Former Rotterdam alderman Karakus receives award]. Rijnmond (in Dutch). 23 April 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  31. ^ "Personalia" [Personal details]. Het Financieele Dagblad (in Dutch). 29 August 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  32. ^ "Samenwerking IVO-Platform31 krijgt nader vorm" [Cooperation between IVO and Platform31 will take shape]. IVO (Press release) (in Dutch). February 2018. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  33. ^ "Karakus naar hogeschool" [Karakus to university of applied sciences]. AD/Rotterdams Dagblad (in Dutch). 23 December 2016. p. 7.
  34. ^ "Personalia 13-10-2020" [Personal details 13-10-2020]. Het Financieele Dagblad (in Dutch). 13 October 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  35. ^ a b c "H. Karakus (PvdA)". Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  36. ^ "Hamit Karakus bestuurlijk regisseur voor woonopgave Vestia-gemeenten" [Hamit Karakus administrative director for housing challenge Vestia municipalities]. Rijksoverheid (Press release) (in Dutch). 31 January 2019. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  37. ^ Schilthuizen, Peter (18 May 2020). "Woningen Vestia in Zuidplas moeten sociale huurwoningen blijven" [Vestia properties in Zuidplas should keep being public housing]. AD (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  38. ^ "Onze kandidaten voor de Eerste Kamer (2019)" [Our Senate candidates (2019)]. PvdA (Press release) (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  39. ^ "Karakus nieuwe senator voor PvdA" [Karakus new Labour Party senator]. Trouw (in Dutch). 4 March 2021. p. 2.
  40. ^ a b Haenen, Marcel (23 June 2023). "Voormalig senator en wethouder Karakus wordt politiebaas in Noord-Holland, ook weer als eerste van Turkse komaf" [Former Senator and Alderman Karakus become chief of police in North Holland, again as the first of Turkish descent]. NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  41. ^ "Lidmaatschappen H. Karakus" [Memberships H. Karakus]. Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  42. ^ "Hamit Karakus". PvdA (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  43. ^ "Hamit Karakus kondigt vertrek aan" [Hamit Karakus announces departure]. Platform31 (Press release) (in Dutch). 19 July 2021. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  44. ^ "Hamit Karakus kondigt vertrek aan" [Hamit Karakus announces departure]. IVO (Press release) (in Dutch). July 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  45. ^ "Platform31-IVO verwelkomt Victor Everhardt als nieuwe directeur-bestuurder" [Platform31-IVO welcomes Victor Everhardt as new director]. IVO (Press release) (in Dutch). December 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  46. ^ König, Eppo (9 November 2021). "Commissie van Hamit Karakus gaat toezien op diversiteit en racisme binnen Rotterdamse politie" [Committee of Hamit Karakus will supervise diversity and racism within Rotterdam police]. NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  47. ^ Reket, Stéphan (11 March 2022). "Dit zwaargewicht moet Vlaardingse wijk van verkeerde lijstjes krijgen: 'Er speelt veel achter voordeur'" [This heavyweight should get Vlaardingen neighborhood off bad lists: 'A lot is happening behind the front door']. AD. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  48. ^ Boom, Wilco (30 November 2022). "Onenigheid bij PvdA over verkiezingslijst: kandidaten trekken zich terug" [Disagreement within the Labour Party about party list: Candidates withdraw]. NOS (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  49. ^ "Hamit Karakus". AD/Rotterdams Dagblad (in Dutch). 12 May 2006. p. 3.
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