[62790] Erdogan shows strength at Kocaeli stadium: 'The future of the country is in the hands of the youth'

Political show of force: Erdogan at the 'Youth Festival' in Kocaeli

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan participated last night in a highly attended 'Youth Festival' (Bir Gençlik Şöleni) held at the Kocaeli Stadium. The event, organized by the Youth Branch of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), drew, according to Haber Gündem, about 100,000 young people from all over Turkey. During the event, drone displays and complex choreography glorifying the president's figure were presented, according to TRT Haber.

In his speech, Erdogan addressed the young audience and emphasized his confidence in the next generation: "We trust you to the end. The presidents of the future will come from among you," reported Son Dakika Haberler. The president added that before him stands "youth that is conscious, possesses conscience, faith, and insight," according to A Haber, a media outlet considered identified with the positions of the government and the AKP party.

Erdogan did not hesitate to attack Turkey's political past, claiming that in previous periods they "darkened the future of the youth" against the backdrop of issues such as clothing and head coverings, according to A Haber. The president also referred to national goals and noted that "in an era where terrorism is completely neutralized, the youth will have no obligation to anyone," according to TGRT Haber reports.

On the other hand, criticism arose in part of the public discourse. The Telegram channel Daily Islamist, which sometimes criticizes the government's conduct from a conservative-religious angle, described the images from the event as "full of corruption and promiscuity" (ifsad), thus providing a rare and critical voice in contrast to the state coverage that praised the event.