President Erdogan rejects calls to shift from conservative-democrat identity
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses supporters at the Presidential Palace after his victory in the second round of the presidential election, Ankara, Türkiye, May 29, 2023. (Reuters Photo)
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the possibility of new members joining the party in a recent ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting, reaffirming the party’s commitment to unity and shared values, according to the sources.
“Our determination to unite around common values with everyone who will add strength to our movement remains unchanged, as it was in the past,” Erdogan stated.
During the meeting, the results of a survey conducted by the AK Party Youth Branches were discussed, revealing insights into the perspectives of young voters.
The survey, which asked young participants: “With which identity do you most identify?” found that the majority identified as “Ataturkist,” with “Nationalist” being the second most common response.
Erdogan displeased with offer
Meanwhile, reports suggest Erdogan was displeased when a MYK member proposed that the party should consider moving away from its conservative-democrat identity based on the survey findings.
Despite this, the survey also indicated that Erdogan maintains higher support among young people aged 18-30 compared to former main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
In response, Erdogan reportedly remarked: “We do not have any issues with recognition. We need to better communicate our achievements to the youth.”
