Atakan Bayraktaroğlu, a parliamentary candidate for the Community Democracy Party (TDP), appeared on Diyalog TV's face-to-face interview programme hosted by Melis Günel, where he outlined his party's positions on youth, education, digital transformation and public administration.
Bayraktaroğlu stated that TDP holds the lowest candidate list age average among all parties, currently at 48, and that the party aims to bring this figure down to 40 by 2030. He stressed that the concerns of young people should not only be addressed during election campaigns but should remain a permanent priority on the political agenda.
Highlighting the ongoing trend of youth emigration from Northern Cyprus, he argued that the existing political mindset has failed to keep pace with the evolving needs of younger generations. He also criticised delays in public sector digitalisation, noting that citizens are still required to carry documents between government offices, and called for the effective use of technology alongside a merit-based governance model.
Bayraktaroğlu announced that a census would be conducted within the first six months following a change of government, describing accurate population data as essential for sound planning. On special education, he called for the implementation of the Special Education Law, the establishment of a dedicated Special Education Directorate within the Ministry of National Education, and improvements to school capacity and infrastructure. He also criticised the use of individuals with special needs for political purposes.
Addressing accountability, Bayraktaroğlu said: "We as the Community Democracy Party are asking for votes in trust. If we fail to honour those votes once we enter parliament, we welcome the public punishing us at the next election." He concluded by affirming that TDP stands ready to produce solutions in parliament across the areas of youth, education, digital transformation, meritocracy and social justice.
