Erdem was born in Kurucaşile in 1933. He graduated from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the İstanbul Technical University in 1959. Upon having worked as a project and control engineer, CEO and general coordinator between 1959-1995 in T.Şeker Fabrikaları, MSB Enfrastrüktür Tesisleri, Cam Elyaf Sanayi, Milliyet Gazetesi ve Doğan Şirketler Grubu, he founded the KONDA Araştırma ve Danışmanlık Ltd. In 1987. Erdem has been a member of the Republican People's Party (CHP) since 1953, where he has served at different posts ranging from ocak yönetim kurulu üyeliği to general secretary. He has been elected as a member of parliament for İstanbul in 1977. Erdem was the Minister of State for Industries and Technology in the Ecevit's cabinet that did not acquire the vote of confidence in June, 1977.

Erdem has also served as the Chairman of numerous student and trade associations as well as director general of Türk Devrim Ocakları. Erdem is the author of Halkevleri, Nisbi Temsil Nedir?, 80’leri Karşılarken, Anayasa ve Seçim Kanunları, İstanbul 1969 İl Kongresi Tutanağı, Üye Kayıtlarının Birleştirilmesi, Tıkanan Siyaset. Tarhan Erdem is at present the chairman of the board of directors of KONDA and is a columnist at Radikal.

Erdem is married and father of two children.


Ağırdır was born in Çal, Denizli in 1956. He has graduate from the department of Business Administration at the Middle East Technical University. Ağırdır has worked at the computing service of CHP in 1979- 1980,  at BİLSAN Bilgisayar Malzemeleri A.Ş. In 1980-1984, first as  sales manager, then as assistant CEO, as sales executive at METEKSAN LTD. ŞTİ in 1984-1986, as CEO of PİRİNTAŞ Bilgisayar Malzemeleri ve Basım San. A.Ş. In 1986-1996,  as assistant CEO at ATILIM Kağıt ve Defter Sanayi A.Ş in 1996-1999, as CEO and member to board of directors at  PMB Akıllı Kart ve Bilgi Teknolojileri A.Ş. In 1999-2003 and at History Foundation of Turkey first as coordinator, then as director general between 2003 and 2005.

He is a founder of the Democratic Republican Programme and is an active member of several NGOs.