bakan

Bakan is a Turkish noun meaning minister, a member of the government’s cabinet who heads a ministry or is responsible for a specific policy area. In everyday and formal use, a minister is often referred to as “Bakan” followed by their surname, for example in news reporting. The office of a minister is called bakanlık, and the collective body of ministers forming the government is referred to as the cabinet, or kabine (bakanlar kurulu).

In practice, bakanlar oversee the administration and policy implementation of their respective ministries, such as foreign affairs, interior, or finance. They are typically members of the cabinet and may be appointed by the head of government or the president, depending on the constitutional framework of the country at a given time. The minister’s duties include proposing legislation, managing public agencies, and representing the ministry in domestic and international affairs. Deputy ministers and state secretaries may assist ministers in day-to-day operations.

The term Bakan is used beyond Turkey as well, in several other Turkic languages with similar political structures, most commonly referring to a government minister. The related noun bakanlık denotes the ministry itself, while the plural form bakanlar refers to multiple ministers. In media and official contexts, the word functions as both a title and a functional designation within the executive branch.

See also: Bakanlık, Bakanlar Kurulu, Kabine.