According to various survey and research companies in Turkey (BUPAR, ORC, KONDA, etc.), if the elections are held in 2028, which is the normal date, the total number of voters is expected to be close to 71.6 million. During the election, approximately 6.5 million young people, that is, 9% of the total number of voters, will go to the polls for the first time and cast their votes. According to the latest data shared by KONDA & GoFor (Youth Perception Research), the dominant group in the ballot box will be Generation Y and Z.
In the research conducted by the companies, the voting tendency of young people is also analyzed and a percentage of votes is presented for each party. However, on May 21, 2026, a court decision was made that young people and citizens heard about perhaps for the first time. With the decision of absolute nullity against the Republican People's Party, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and his team were reappointed. After the nullity decision on May 21, 2026, innovative cadres in the CHP left the party and founded the NEW Party. So, do young people know the NEW Party?
Cem Aydın, who served as the Chairman of the Youth Branch of the NEW Party, which has been around a month since its establishment, answered Cumhuriyet's questions and stated that young people demand a politics that is very vocal and has change in its essence. Aydin said that as more participatory and daring political steps were taken in the NEW Party, awareness among young people turned into interest.
'WE ELIMINATED THE CASTE SYSTEM IN POLITICS'
Underlining that young people are the main actors in changes in every period, Cem Aydın said, "Youth is a spark, as defined by our great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. In our New Party, we make young cadres feel that they are valuable. We have eliminated the caste system in politics. The main discomfort of Generation Z is the unfair functioning we are in." he said.
YOUTH POLICIES OF THE NEW PARTY
Briefly summarizing the youth policies of the NEW Party, which has not yet held its first congress, Aydın said, "Our main effort is to pave the way for a new generation of politics in which all democratic youth of Turkey will direct themselves. We will also solve the financial difficulties of the students, and we will bring the KYK scholarship amount to at least 1 quarter gold level. We will build fair competition conditions with the financial support we will provide to women, youth and cooperatives. To reach a Turkey where the youth of no city from Edirne to Hakkari are condemned to migration." "Our goal," he said.
'IT REFLECTS MOST WITH YOUNG PEOPLE'
Stating that young people, called Generation Z, on the streets, on the internet and in social life, are aware of the NEW Party, Istanbul Provincial Chairman Özgür Çelik said, "We founded our party on July 24, 2026. Over the past period, our number of members has exceeded 500 thousand. Youth is one of the segments where the New Party resonates the most."
'THOSE WHO THINK THEY CAN IMPACT WITH MATERIALS ARE MISTAKEN'
Stating that those who think that they can influence young people only with some financial promises are wrong, Çelik said, "There is a youth that is open to the world, but loves its country very much and wants its country to be free from tension and pressure. The youth does not trust politics and politicians. First of all, the NEW Party will not impose politics on the youth. Because the youth is tired of impositions. The youth, with its own voice, its own words, its own demands, will be at the center of politics and will be one of the most important architects of change in Turkey."
ISTANBUL MODEL
Stating that they will implement a formula called the 'Istanbul Model', Özgür Çelik stated that they will transform the party buildings from being cold bureaucracy buildings into living social centers where young people can study. He stated that they will call, "Instead of the classical politician's language that tells promises, we will establish a dynamic field culture that produces forms and discusses the high cost of living, future anxiety and freedom demands of young people on the street, in the workshop and around the university."
'THE PERCEPTION THAT THIS ORDER WILL NOT CHANGE IS VERY DANGEROUS'
Emphasizing that the hopelessness that is being tried to spread among young people must be overcome, Prof. Dr. Barış Övgün said, "Nothing will happen in this country anymore. The perception that this order will not change with the elections is widespread. This is a very dangerous perception. We need to change this. That is why this is one of the things we attach the most importance to and will give importance to in the process leading up to the elections." Pointing out that it is critical for young people to be involved in the process, Övgün said, "If we can make people perceive that you are the real actor of this change without being offended by politics, we can realize this change process."
'BE MORE IN POLITICS'
Referring to the demographic change in the field work of the NEW Party, Övgün said, "There are people in our marches and rallies that we have not seen before. Previously, retirees and those over a certain age did not participate in our actions and rallies. But in the last year, there has been a tremendous increase in retirees and women." Underlining that their main target in the upcoming period is young people, Övgün drew attention to the importance of bringing together these different generations.
Övgün concluded his sentences by saying, "The segment we will give the most importance to in the coming period will be young people, and this will start especially with the opening of universities. That's why we are looking forward to the opening of universities. We need to show our young people at least this: We can decide together. You influence the decision-making mechanisms. That's why you should be more involved in politics."
HOW WILL THE NEW PARTY REACH YOUTH?
'Social media platforms' are among the places where young people come together the most. NEW Party staff stated in their statement that they designed the physical and digital field as a communication strategy that complements and strengthens each other. Stating that they do not need large production companies and million-dollar budgets, the staff emphasized that they are talking about a communication strategy built from top to bottom with the volunteer efforts of creative young people.
He also stated that tens of thousands of young companions from all over Anatolia are counting the days until they can take to the field in the physical and digital field.
