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Yilma Bal | |
|---|---|
 Bal during his premiership | |
| Premier of Jakania | |
|
In office 16 December 4737 – 23 October 4743 | |
| President |
Nuray Cevahir Ayleen Basri |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Baran Batuk |
| Leader of the Democratic Alliance | |
|
In office 19 May 4737 – 30 November 4747 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Zehra Apak |
| Assembly Deputy | |
|
In office 5 November 4737 – 30 November 4747 | |
| Council Deputy | |
|
In office 19 February 4752 – 1 October 4752 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
14 October 4691 Mesul, Jakania |
| Died |
5 May 4768 (aged 76) Mesul, Jakania |
| Nationality | Jakanian |
| Political party | Democratic Alliance |
| Spouse(s) | Naseera al-Saad |
| Children | Eldemir Bal, and 3 others |
| Relatives | Bal family |
| Alma mater | Dokuz National University |
| Profession | Politician, filmmaker |
| Religion | Ahmadism |
Yilma Bal (14 October 4691 – 5 May 4768) was a Jakanian politician and filmmaker who served as Premier of Jakania between December 4737 and October 4743. Beginning his career as a documentary filmmaker, Bal founded the Democratic Alliance alongside Khaalid al-Hashmi, Zehra Apak, Nuray Cevahir and Aytolun Toker. Unlike the other founding figures in the party, Bal had no formal political experience prior to becoming the party's inaugural leader.
Following the 4737 Jakanian general election, Bal became the first Premier of Jakania as the party instituted a series of political and economic reforms. Over the next five years, he led a government that saw a dramatic turnaround in the economic conditions in the country, as well as a renewed position on the international stage.
In spite of his government's success, the Alliance finished fourth in the 4742 elections and became a junior partner in a three party coalition led by Birlik's Baran Batuk. Following a series of personal and policy disputes between Bal and the Birlik leadership, he made the decision to break with the government and in doing so triggered a period of several years of political instability in the country.
In November 4747, Bal announced he would retire from frontline politics owing to health concerns. Khaalid al-Hashmi became interim party leader before the eventual election of Zehra Apak. After leaving politics, Bal embarked on various other projects including a return to film as a producer through his own production company.
Early life[]
Bal was born to a middle class family in Mesul on 14 October 4691. Throughout his childhood and early life, Bal continued to live in the coastal city and he was later involved in various events and societies to celebrate it. Despite growing up in what he described as a "liberal household", Bal spoke of his strong Ahmadi faith as a child and the importance of a local imam in his early development.
Filmmaking career[]
After leaving school, Bal attended the Dokuz National University to study comparative literature. During this time he became involved in a filmmaking for the first time, shooting short films alongside members the of university's film society. Upon graduation he secured a role on the crew of the documentary arm of Jakania's national television broadcaster.
After working on several small documentary projects (primarily as director of photography), he was hired to direct the narrative feature Kaan Pocan. Released in 4715, the film was a moderate domestic success but was sufficient to attract new attention to Bal and he was hired to direct Candan- a documentary feature for the international market- in 4719.
Naci Altan as the title character in Kaan Pocan
The following year Bal achieved a critical and popular breakthrough with his documentary feature Yeni kelimeler (New Words). Notably the film was the first documentary written by Bal and it provided him with an opportunity to demonstrate his filmmaking style. In the wake of the unusual box office success of the documentary, Bal was able to produce his first film Nerede ve ne zaman (Where and when). Not only was the film a financial success, it won Bal the Best Director award at the Valois Film Festival in 4722 and launched him as an international filmmaker.
In subsequent years, Bal continued to produce his own documentary films. Despite regularly topping the Jakanian box office among documentaries, his films received limited critical acclaim, with the notable exception of Geri gelen mail: detaylar için transkripte bakın (Returning mail: see transcript for details) in 4728.
Political career[]
Government[]
Following a series of meetings between various left-wing, liberal and democratic political figures in 4737, the formation of the Democratic Alliance was announced. Prior to the formal announcement, the major figures involved decided to approach Bal to become the new party's inaugural leader. Although he had no formal political experience in elected office, Bal had become a cultural figure in previous years due to his outspoken nature on a variety of issues. The ability to convince Bal to endorse and lead the party was seen as a major success at the time.
Nuray Cevahir was President for most of Bal's term
Following the 4737 Jakanian constitutional referendum, Bal led the Alliance to a resounding victory in the subsequent election campaign. In the wake of this result, he became the inaugural Premier of the Republic and the leader of the Bal cabinet. Over the following five years, he oversaw the implementation of a variety of economic and social reforms within the country.
By the time of the 4742 Jakanian general election, the Alliance were no longer the only major political party in the country owing to the formation of Birlik, Umut and Niyaz. Despite being a relatively popular leader and instituting widely supported policies, the Alliance vote collapses and the party finished fourth. After extensive negotiations, Bal eventually led the Alliance into a three-party coalition government with Birlik and Niyaz.
Opposition[]
Despite initially working in collaboration, relations between the coalition partners began to deteriorate. Following a series of public remarks between Birlik leader Ayleen Basri and Bal, Alliance cabinet members resigned their positions and the party entered opposition in February 4745. Within a couple of days of the resignations, the Assembly called early elections.
Although Basri was re-elected as President, her party failed to win a legislative majority and were unable to form a government with either of the other parties. Eventually Bal decided to support a Birlik minority government. Alongside Umut, Bal's Alliance blocked almost all of the government's agenda and passed a variety of measures to counter their programme.
Within this term however, Bal's health deteriorated and he was urged to reduce the level of stress and pressure in his life. Eventually he was forced to retire from front-line politics following a heart attack in November 4737. In the immediate wake of his retirement, Bal was replaced as leader by Khaalid al-Hashmi in an interim capacity. The subsequent leadership election was won by Zehra Apak.
Retirement[]
Shortly after retiring as Premier, Bal formed his own media production company and signed an exclusive deal with Jakanian streaming service evFilm. In January 4750, a documentary limited series about the the rise of the Democratic Alliance entitled Günün Hükümeti (Government of the Day) premiered on the service and attracted significant attention in the Jakanian media.
Despite retiring from front line politics in 4747, Bal maintained an active interest in the future of the Democratic Alliance. In both the 4751 and the 4756 elections, he appeared alongside Alliance presidential candidate Meltem Caner. For a brief period in Caner's first term he was elevated to the Jakanian Council, the appointed upper house of the Assembly in order to advise the government formally on support for the entertainment and media industry, as well as on constitutional affairs.
Political philosophy[]
Bal's politics were somewhat unclear prior to his entry into formal politics in 4737. Although his film's were noted for their humanising depiction of marginalised groups in Jakanian society, he was frequently quoted sharing conservative talking points, particularly around the role of Ahmadism in public life. Before he joined the Democratic Alliance as its inaugural leader, Bal had been approached on several occasions by existing political organisations but rebuffed them.
Yilma Bal and former Jakanian President Nuray Cevahir
Significant discussion continues over the influence of Bal's own political philosophy on the policy platform of the Alliance. Even throughout his term as Premier, it is believed that a certain degree of political direction was provided by Bal's advisers and political allies. During his tenure he received criticism for acting as figurehead for other individuals within the party.
In spite of these rumours, Bal remained committed to the principle of Ahmadi democracy that underpinned the 4737 Jakanian Constitution. In practical terms, the Bal government was heavily influenced by the prevailing political conditions of the period. Prior to the formation of formal opposition parties, the party presented a much more radical political programme including the nationalisation of a variety of key industries. After the defection of several Deputies to Birlik, they began to adopt more moderate stances on many issues.
Filmography[]
Film[]
- Kaan Pocan (4715), director
- Candan (4719), director
- Yeni kelimeler (4720), writer and director
- Nerede ve ne zaman (4722), writer, director and producer
- Eksik (4726), director and producer
- Geri gelen mail: detaylar için transkripte bakın (4728), writer, director and producer
- Itfa için arama (4735), writer, director and producer
- Uzlaşma (4754), producer
- Anlaşma (4755), producer
- Anne ve kızı (4763), producer
Television[]
- Günün hükümeti (4750), producer
- Çözülmemiş (4759), producer
- Birlik (4761), producer