Background
Mumcu was born in the western Anatolian town of Yalvaç in Isparta Province. His father was Süleyman and his mother Cemile.
Mumcu was born in the western Anatolian town of Yalvaç in Isparta Province. His father was Süleyman and his mother Cemile.
He graduated from the Istanbul University"s Faculty of Law.
He became a member in the coalition government of Bülent Ecevit as Minister for Tourism serving from May 28, 1999 to August 8, 2001. He joined the Justice and Development Party and was reelected from Isparta in the 2002 elections into the parliament. In the cabinet of Prime Minister Abdullah Gül, he was first the Minister of National Education and then the Minister of Culture and Tourism.
After a dispute with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, he resigned on February 15, 2005, and joined the Motherland Party again.
Erkan Mumcu was elected 6th president of Anavatan Partisi (Motherland Party) at the extraordinary party congress on April 2, 2005. On October 25, 2008, Mumcu resigned the leadership of the Motherland Party.
He entered politics in 1995 as deputy of Isparta from the Motherland Party. In 1997-1998, Erkan Mumcu served as secretary general and in 1998-1999, he was vice president of the party.