Deputy Minister of Interior Karaloğlu Spoke on Leadership in Times of Crisis

Deputy Minister of Interior Münir Karaloğlu met with students at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University (IZU) as part of the program titled “Leadership and Management in Times of Crisis.” Drawing on his own experiences particularly the Van Earthquake and the July 15 coup attempt Karaloğlu explained how institutions should act during times of crisis.

Organized by the IZU Management, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership Application and Research Center in cooperation with the E-Commerce Club and the Entrepreneurship Club, the program addressed decision-making processes and leadership approaches during crisis periods. Held at the Abdullah Tivnikli Conference Hall, the event was attended by Küçükçekmece District Governor Mustafa Anteplioğlu, IZU Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Cevat Acar, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Nihat Erdoğmuş, academics, and many students. In his opening remarks, Rector Acar expressed his satisfaction at bringing Deputy Minister Karaloğlu together with IZU students. Emphasizing Karaloğlu’s long-standing experience in public administration, Rector Acar noted that his expertise especially gained during states of emergency and in regions heavily affected by counterterrorism efforts constituted a significant benefit for students.

KARALOĞLU: CAPTURING THE RIGHT PICTURE IN CRISIS MANAGEMENT IS VITAL
During the talk-format program, Deputy Minister Münir Karaloğlu responded to questions from Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Nihat Erdoğmuş and shared his experiences in crisis management. Stressing that crises should be evaluated under different categories, Karaloğlu said:
“There are natural disasters, economic crises, health crises such as pandemics, as well as political and social crises. But the first minutes, hours, and days of every crisis are processes that must be managed separately. In natural disasters, the first 24 hours indeed the first 72 hours are extremely critical. There is an obligation to save lives. The faster you organize, the more lives you save. A leader must first fully understand the crisis and clearly identify its dimensions. Otherwise, there is no chance of directing human resources and equipment correctly.”

“WE DID NOT SLEEP FOR 72 HOURS DURING THE VAN EARTHQUAKE”
Sharing his experiences from the Van Earthquake, Karaloğlu said:
“The earthquake caused destruction in the city center of Van as well. The most severe situation was in Erciş. We had to focus on the place with the greatest destruction and loss of life. In crisis management, capturing the right picture in the early hours is of vital importance.”
Referring to the intense pace of work during crisis periods, Karaloğlu added, “At times, you may have to work without sleep for 48 or even 72 hours. Tasks that appear easy from the outside require very serious coordination and sacrifice on the inside.”

“ON THE NIGHT OF JULY 15, INSTITUTIONS ACTED WITH RAPID REFLEXES”
Karaloğlu also shared his assessment of the events in Antalya on the night of the July 15 coup attempt. He stated:
“On July 16, our President was scheduled to come to Antalya. We were in the field all day preparing for this organization. In the evening, the first information about the developments in Istanbul began to arrive. The seriousness of the situation became clear. First, we needed to understand the crisis who was doing what and what exactly was happening. Thanks to the initiative we took, there was no military movement in Antalya that night.”