As TÜRGEV, together with our fellow members of the National Will Platform, we say: Onward for a Strong and Great Turkey.
22 June 2018
Onward for a Strong and Great Turkey
As TÜRGEV, together with our fellow members of the National Will Platform, we say: Onward for a Strong and Great Turkey.
On Sunday, June 24, 2018, nearly 55 million voters will go to the polls to elect, for the first time under the newly approved system from the recent referendum, the President of the Republic of Turkey and the members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
Since the transition to a multi-party political system, our people have freely determined, through their will, the party and parliamentary candidates they wish to see form the government—setting an example for many nations around the world. Turkey has also reached a remarkable level of democratic maturity in the conduct of elections and in ensuring that the will of the electorate is reflected in the ballot box.
Thanks to governments formed in line with the democratic maturity and preferences of our citizens, our country has, especially in recent years, been governed with stability and achieved steady growth. Major investments have been implemented in health, transportation, education, communication, and defense industries, yielding successful outcomes.
As a result, the Republic of Turkey has become both an economic and political hub in its region. Bridges have been built with our broader cultural and historical geography, and our ties with our ancient civilization have been strengthened.
Despite insidious obstructions and coup attempts orchestrated by hostile forces inside and outside the country over the past decade, this progress has continued. Plots threatening the nation’s survival have been foiled, and perpetrators have been punished—and will continue to be punished.
Even under siege and in a state of covert war targeting the state’s existence and the unity of society, civil society organizations—the lifeblood of any nation—have received unprecedented support, both legally and operationally, compared to previous eras.
Barriers preventing our citizens from living and expressing their religious and moral values have been removed. Women and girls who wish to wear the headscarf are now free from the restrictions once imposed in schools and public institutions. Imam Hatip schools have been opened in sufficient numbers to meet public demand, and students in these schools have regained rights previously denied to them under earlier governments.
Restrictions on Qur’an education have been lifted. The wounds inflicted on the victims of the February 28 process have been healed, and the social trauma experienced by our nation has been overcome.
Citizens from all segments of society have been able to express their views freely through all means of communication, without insult or hate speech. Likewise, all ideas and beliefs—so long as they do not promote terrorism or violence—have enjoyed full freedom to organize and operate.
In appreciation of these positive developments, and to ensure the completion of unfinished projects, the resolution of deficiencies, and the advancement of our country in every field, we believe that our people should continue to support President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the AK Party team working under his leadership for the unity and solidarity of our nation.
As the National Will Platform, together with hundreds of NGOs and millions of members, we will go to the polls on Sunday to reflect our will in favor of stability, freedom, security, peace, and progress—and, as before, we will once again say with strength and determination: ONWARD.
Respectfully announced to the public.
NATIONAL WILL PLATFORM
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