Students report from METU: 'Republican Youth Again!'
As the 2026 Republican Congress (CK) approaches, the first of the 'Republican Youth Again!' events was held in Ankara, hosted by the METU Socialist Thought Community (SDT), with the efforts of the People's Assembly of Turkey (THTM) Student Initiatives, Daima Newspaper, and the Socialist Culture Magazine.
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Young people, teachers, women, and laborers from every corner of Turkey are coming together in preparatory meetings for the Republican Congress, which will convene this June to unveil a program that will lead to Turkey's liberation. Republican youth are preparing for the Congress with meetings in Ankara and Istanbul.
'A REVOLUTIONARY PROGRAM IS NEEDED'
At the event held at METU under the title 'Republican Youth Again!', students emphasized the need for a forward-looking, principled, and revolutionary program to revive the Republic. Furthermore, the students participating in the meeting stated that they would popularize and strengthen the Republican Congress, which aims to bring this program to light, in every field.
'WE WILL PROUDLY CARRY OUR REPUBLICAN IDENTITY'
The event began with a speech by the host, the SDT. Speaking on behalf of the SDT, Mert Efe Kurtuluş stated, "The destruction caused by the liquidation of the Republic's social gains on the youth is evident. In the face of this destruction, we must create and popularize a program written by secularism, science, public interest, equality, and independence. As the patriotic youth of this country, we will proudly carry our Republican identity."
'WE CAN ONLY BE SAVED FROM REACTIONISM WITH A REPUBLIC WHERE THE WORKING CLASSES HAVE THE FINAL SAY'
Following this, Anıl Tasmacı took the floor on behalf of Daima Newspaper, one of the components of the CK, and said, "The struggle for the Republic has gained significant importance for young people in recent times. We must organize the struggle for independence and secularism with the struggle for the Republic. The anti-imperialist character of the Republic can provide us with great opportunities while doing this. We can only be saved from reactionism with a Republic where the working classes have the final say."
'IT IS POSSIBLE TO SEE THE LIQUIDATION OF THE REPUBLIC AT THE SOURCE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS WE FACE'
On the other hand, Güneş Durgun, speaking on behalf of the Socialist Culture Magazine, another CK component, said, "It is possible to see the liquidation of the Republic at the source of all the problems we face today. Today, we need a Republic that is labor-oriented, enlightened, and populist. We, as young people, should not see this problem as separate from our own agendas and must struggle for it."
WHO ATTENDED?
The student groups that attended the event were listed as: "METU Socialist Thought Community, METU Industrial Engineering Student Representatives Council, METU Philosophy Society, METU Young Writers Society, METU History Society, Hacettepe University Literature Society, Ankara University Book Reading Society, Ankara University Sociology Society, Ankara University Enlightenment and Social Research Society, DTCF Student Solidarity Network, Ankara Social Sciences University Solidarity Network, Hacettepe University Solidarity Network, THTM Health Students Initiative."
The second of the 'Republican Youth Again!' events will be held on Friday, April 24, at 18:00 at the Istanbul Nazım Hikmet Cultural Center (NHKM).
News: Cenk BAŞBOĞAOĞLU