Arayuz Campaign

For the youth!

Arayuz Campaign

For the youth!

National Assembly in March: Youth Issues Factsheet

Notes

This information note summarizes the prominent themes, discussions, and key data related to youth in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) for the month of March, based on the officially published parliamentary transcripts. During March, youth-related topics were discussed a total of 48 times in Parliament. A point of particular importance in this note is that, through the parliamentary motion for research submitted on women’s employment in March, the issue of unemployment among young women—an issue not mentioned in previous months—was brought to the parliamentary agenda. In addition, the issue of drugs/gambling was discussed in the TBMM from the perspectives of both poverty and youth suicides.

Key Themes

Drug and Gambling Addiction: Opposition MPs brought the issue of drugs and gambling to the parliamentary agenda a total of 8 times. In their speeches, they stated that youth poverty drives young people into hopelessness, and that as a result, drugs and gambling become their only expectations. They particularly drew attention to the uncontrolled growth of online gambling. By party;

  • 6 times CHP
  • 1 time İYİ Party
  • 1 time MHP MPs raised this issue.

MPs who examined youth suicides within the framework of addiction also mentioned this issue 2 times (1 DEM Party, 1 CHP). The hopelessness of young people was also brought to the agenda 2 times (1 CHP, 1 İYİ Party).

Employment Problem of Young Women: Youth unemployment is a topic that stands out in the TBMM almost every month. However, in March 2026, the motion on women’s employment submitted by CHP MP Aysu Bankoğlu and her colleagues brought a new dimension to the issue, emphasizing that the unemployment rate among young women is even higher than that of young men. This issue was discussed a total of 4 times in Parliament. By party;

  • 3 times CHP
  • 1 time DEVA Party MPs brought this issue to the agenda.

In addition, the demand of young people for student amnesty was discussed 3 times, while the vulnerability of young people to crime and the fee for paid military service were each discussed 2 times in the TBMM.

Notable Data

Youth-related topics were brought up 48 times in the Turkish Grand National Assembly during the month of March. By party, CHP MPs spoke 26 times, DEM Party MPs 10 times, and İYİ Party MPs 4 times on this issue. HÜDAPAR MPs brought youth-related issues to the parliamentary agenda 3 times, while MHP and DEVA Party MPs did so 2 times each.

The MP who spoke most frequently on youth issues in March was Orhan Sümer from CHP.

Conclusion

In March, the main focus of discussions on youth in the Turkish Grand National Assembly was the issue of drugs and gambling. MPs also addressed this issue from the perspectives of youth hopelessness and youth suicides, and identified youth poverty as the main cause. As Arayüz Campaign, we will examine the issues raised and new processes in terms of their impact on young people in our future work.

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