National Assembly in June: Youth Issues Factsheet

This policy brief summarizes the highlights, speeches, and key data concerning youth-related issues in the Turkish Grand National Assembly in June, based on information compiled from the Assembly’s published minutes. A particularly noteworthy point in the June records is that the National Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Committee, one of the parliamentary standing committees, has not convened for the past two years.

Key Themes

Youth hopelessness, youth migration abroad, and youth suicides: Opposition MPs stated that young people have lost hope in both Turkey and their own futures. In this context, young people’s desire to migrate abroad was mentioned 3 times by MPs from CHP, DEM Party, and İYİ Party. Youth hopelessness was brought to the agenda of the Turkish Grand National Assembly 2 times by MPs from DEVA Party and DEM Party. The increase in youth suicides was highlighted by 4 MPs: 2 from İYİ Party, 1 from CHP, and 1 from DEM Party.

The harsh interventions and arrests carried out throughout the year in response to youth activism were discussed 4 times in the Turkish Grand National Assembly by MPs from DEM Party, CHP, and İYİ Party.

The inadequacy of KYK scholarships, student loans, and dormitory capacity experienced by young people during their university education was raised 3 times by MPs from CHP, DEM Party, and İYİ Party. Opposition MPs stated that these problems are not limited to university life and emphasized 4 times the lack of merit in public appointments and recruitment interviews, with 3 mentions by CHP MPs and 1 by a Felicity Party MP.

Notable Data

Youth-related issues were brought to the agenda of the Turkish Grand National Assembly 48 times throughout May. By political party, CHP MPs addressed the issue 10 times, İYİ Party MPs 9 times, DEM Party MPs 11 times, AKP MPs 7 times, and DEVA Party MPs 5 times. MPs from the New Welfare Party and MHP each spoke on the issue 2 times. MPs from the Future Party and the Felicity Party each addressed youth-related issues once.

The MP who spoke most frequently on youth-related issues in the Turkish Grand National Assembly throughout January was Uğur Poyraz from İYİ Party.

The MPs who addressed the widest range of youth-related problems were Mehmet Emin Ekmen from DEVA Party, Yılmaz Hun from DEM Party, and Aykut Kaya from CHP.

In addition, a debate took place between AKP MP Zehranur Aydemir and CHP Deputy Group Chair Ali Mahir Başarır concerning young people’s problems and their capacity for political representation.

Conclusion

In June, discussions on youth-related issues in the Turkish Grand National Assembly took place largely in the context of Youth Week. These discussions brought to the agenda both claims concerning increasing opportunities and investments for young people and, conversely, the problems they are compelled to confront. As Arayüz Campaign, we will examine legislation and emerging policy processes in terms of their impact on youth in our future work.