Erdogan mobilizes AK Party youth prior to celebration anniversary
The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is gearing up for its anniversary event on Thursday, marking the 24th anniversary of its youth branch. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who addressed the Strategy and Consultation Camp of the AK Party's youth wing earlier this week, praised the group as a guarantee of peace and stability in the region.
Addressing the youth branch, Erdoğan referred to them as soldiers of a great organization, devoted to the nation, the country, the ummah, and humanity. He expressed his pride in running toward the same horizon with them and compared them to the generation of Asım, as described in the Turkish national anthem.
The AK Party youth branch, often referred to as Turkey's "most organized, largest, and most active youth network," plays a significant role in Turkish politics. Launched alongside the ruling AKP since its establishment in 2001, the youth wing serves as a crucial channel for engaging younger generations with the party's political vision and legacy.
Historically, the AK Party youth have helped sustain the party's broad appeal across various segments, especially conservatively oriented young voters who may have previously felt alienated from mainstream politics. They are part of the party’s wider endeavor to transcend traditional left-right divides by promoting an inclusive vision, encapsulated in Erdoğan’s "Century of Türkiye" and "Kızıl Elma" (Red Apple) goals.
However, recent polls suggest challenges among young voters, with Turkey’s main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leading by 8 points in youth support. This shift is partly attributed to youth-led protests following political events, such as the arrest of İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, which mobilized young activists and highlighted a more contested political landscape.
Despite these challenges, the AK Party youth branch continues to expand, with over 1 million members, making it one of the world's largest grassroots youth movements. In the past three months alone, the party admitted 130,000 new members.
Erdoğan, speaking at the Strategy and Consultation Camp, emphasized the dedication of the AK Party youth to the party’s values and national ideals. He highlighted that the youth branch integrated itself deeply with the party’s history, nation, and future ambitions, representing a hopeful force expected to unite and serve as an example for youth globally.
As the AK Party youth branch celebrates its anniversary, there are rumors that some mayors may also join the AK Party. The event will wrap up with Erdoğan taking the stage to the song "Endamın Yeter" by Kıraç, receiving a standing ovation from the audience.
Despite smear campaigns and perception management efforts, the AK Party Youth Branches have remained resilient, embodying the party’s future aspirations while actively engaging in grassroots and national level mobilization. Their role is both a symbol of the AK Party’s enduring power and a practical force shaping political dynamics among Turkey’s younger generations.
- The AK Party youth branch, being one of the world's largest grassroots youth movements with over 1 million members, will celebrate its anniversary in Europe, continuing to be a symbol of the AK Party’s enduring power and a practical force shaping political dynamics among Turkey’s younger generations.
- As the AK Party youth branch expands its influence in arts, politics, and general news, Erdoğan, addressing the Strategy and Consultation Camp of the AK Party's youth wing, emphasized the dedication of the youth branch to the party’s values and national ideals, comparing them to the generation of Asım, as described in the Turkish national anthem.
- The world will witness the unity and solidarity of the AK Party youth branch as they engage with various segments of society, using the arts to foster harmony between different cultures and political streams, thereby upholding the party's vision of a united and inclusive humanity.
