First-time voters appreciate what they didn't know – Turkey without Erdogan

Istanbul — Effective for 6 million first-time voters to extend President Erdogan's reign to 30 years or choose something Will be decided. They didn't know – Turkey is under another leader.

Perhaps less than 12 months after the country's largest elections in modern history, the majority of young Turks say they want change, but opponents say work conditions, schools. I'm a little skeptical about whether freedom can be improved properly. Freedom of speech.

About 12% of all voters in the presidential and parliamentary elections set in June 2023, the youth is becoming a very fierce competition with Prime Minister Erdogan. Will be decisive. According to pollsters, it controls the AK party.

Interviews with nearly 12 Turkish people aged 18-23, from the big cities of Istanbul to central Anatolia, show that justice, immigration, meritocracy jobs and transparent economic policies are paramount. It turned out to be a matter.

"I'm not completely relieved in my decision, but I think I'll choose the worst (and support the opposition)," said Damra, a history student in Istanbul. 19 years old) said. Last name.

Economic turmoil and rising inflation are pushing up her living expenses, even though she lives with her family, and she doesn't go out much with her friends. ..

"I feel like I'm not alive, I'm just trying to survive," Damra said. "Even if the AK party loses this election, the new government should still feel the pressure of the people."

Polls are changing, but Erdogan is slightly defeated, His AK Party (AKP) has suggested that it will relinquish control of parliament.

However, the informal opposition coalition has not announced presidential candidates, some young voters are not convinced, and authoritarian Prime Minister Erdogan has long since taking command in 2003. He continues to win in a row.

The president is in the direction of the relocated Islamic traditionally secular society has turned Turkey into a regional military force and used courts to crack down on dissent.

He is currently facing a difficult election campaign. This is largely due to his own unorthodox economic policies, such as interest rate cuts that pushed Lira to historic lows and inflation to a 24-year high of 78.62% in June.

Motivation

The so-called "Generation Z" constitutes about 13 million of the 62.4 million Turks scheduled to vote next year and is with the Statistics Bureau. Pollster data shows. 6 million people are eligible to vote for the first time.

Murat Gezici, head of polling firm Gezici, said young voters are generally angry with the government, but are not bound by any particular ideology and fully trust the opposition. Said not.

According to polls, Gen Z voters between the ages of 18 and 25 strongly oppose lifestyle, free speech, and media crackdowns. "80% of this generation will not vote for the AK party," he said.

Yusuf, the first voter at the age of 18, said most of the world's economy was in dire straits following the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

"I think the ones who control our country now are the best and most appropriate leaders ... they plan to make people comfortable. So I will vote for the AK party, "he said.

"The economy may not be doing well, but this applies to all countries."

Turkey's youth unemployment rate in April was 20%, but officially According to the data, it is compared with the OECD average of 10.87%.

Pollsters say young voters' motives are wildcards, increasing the unpredictability of elections. It could depend on who the group of six opposition parties, who agreed on a common policy basis, would choose as a challenger to Prime Minister Erdogan.

“Young people want change,” said Mehmet Ali Kulat, Chairman of MAK Consulting. According to his survey, 70% of 18-29 year olds support the opposition.

He said young voters tend to compare their economic outlook with their foreign peers, while older voters focus more on infrastructure investments such as roads and hospitals. ..

Hyelin, 21, has voted against the government's policy of deteriorating the living environment, but their proposal effectively addresses current immigration policy and minority rights issues. I'm afraid I can't.

"I believe that a change in power will at least solve an urgent problem," she said by phone from Ankara. (Additional report by Ezgi Erkoyun, edited by Daren Butler's Jonathan Spicer)