IRI Hosts Candidate Debates

March 26, 2004

On March 28, the Republic of Turkey will hold local elections nationwide. To encourage the interest of youth in the elections and bring the youth voice to the fore, IRI held candidate debates before audiences of young voters in two of the country’s biggest municipal districts. IRI co-hosted the events with local chapters of the Turkish Inter-University Debate League, an organization through which students engage in debate competitions at the national and international levels.

The first debate took place on Saturday, March 20 in the influential ?ankaya district of Ankara, which is experiencing one of the capital’s most competitive races. Four mayoral candidates engaged in a spirited debate of the issues before an audience of approximately 50 local youths. The event was conducted in a town hall format, allowing audience members to question the candidates directly and have their voices heard on a variety of issues.

The second debate, similarly structured, was held in Istanbul’s Besiktas district, home to five major universities and a large youth population. Candidates from seven political parties participated and the event received significant media coverage.

IRI provided coverage of both debates, including transcripts and video, on its popular Turkish website, www.gencnet.org, which is a forum for youth involvement in the country’s political and civic life.

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