Cem, who was hospitalized in December for a lung infection, had recently returned to Turkey from the US after several months of treatment for lung cancer. He was a respected political figure at home and overseas and served as Turkey's foreign minister under two successive governments from 1997 to 2002. Cem was known for his efforts to thaw Turkish-Greek relations and as an intellectual, but he is best known for his reputation as a gentleman. Milliyet's Taha Akyol talks about two aspects of Cem's personality. First, Cem always gave off positive energy. He says that Cem never lost the smile on his face either in his private life or in his political struggles. "Perhaps, due to this, he was never harsh, rude, offensive or dogmatic in his political approach. He had a broad political horizon that was soft, constructive and peaceful." Second, Akyol points out his intelligence. He clarifies that Cem always tried to bring a philosophical depth to whatever position he held, starting in the first years of his career as a journalist. Referring to his studies on Turkish history, Akyol stresses that there are few who ventured as deep into Turkey's national history, despite being Western educated. "Cem left a spiritual and cultural legacy behind with his model personality, positive energy and his service to politics," concludes Akyol.
Bugün's Nuh Gönültaş mentions that although people may have differing views on Cem, everyone agrees on his affable personality. Gönültaş compares Cem to Bülent Ecevit, the former Turkish prime minister who recently passed away, showing that both were politicians with a background in journalism. They both played a significant role in Turkey's foreign policy. Both were writers and poets at the same time. "Both of them were different from the usual profile of politicians with their courtesy and politeness," remarks Gönültaş. He explains that their political lives, too, had similarities. Just as Ecevit rebelled against fellow party member İsmet İnönü, leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) of the time, Cem rebelled against Ecevit within the Democratic Left Party (DSP), but he had to establish a new party as he understood that Ecevit's resistance was hard to break. Gönültaş remarks that history did not repeat itself that time and that Cem's party remained below the election threshold while Ecevit, taking over the CHP's leadership in that period, had much political success.
Sabah's Mehmet Barlas talks about the two kinds of people who enter politics. The first kind are those who have already had considerable success in their private and business lives and are not after status. Such people want to enter politics to use their experience and knowledge to serve their country, he says. The second type are those who want status and never make a big contribution. "Politics is a means to become famous, earn a fortune and gain power for such people," he explains. Barlas classifies Cem in the first category, remarking that if more people like Cem entered politics, the competition to become the ruling party would be less fierce. "People who make a contribution to politics with their personality, not those who gain personality thanks to the posts they hold, make democracy work in a country," he said.
