Erdoğan calls lower required age of elected deputies

ISTANBUL-Doğan News Agency

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan addresses the audience after receiving his honorary doctorate degree from Yildiz Technical University in Istanbul October 5, 2012. REUTERS Photo

Turkey’s Prime Minister called today for the age requirement of elected parliamentary deputies to be reduced to 18 years old.

“This is the first time I am making this call. I am making a call with the [same] mentality that gave the right to vote in elections at the age of 18; if you have already given this right [to the people], then let us also give the right to be elected at the age of 18,” Erdoğan said during a speech made at the opening ceremony of the Yıldız Technical University 2012-2013 education year in Istanbul.

Erdoğan said the biggest danger at universities is dogmatism and being close to change.

“Some universities were known for their attitude of ‘standardization’ during some terms. The mentality that perceived the universities as an ideological tool has prevented the creation of a real university atmosphere which takes the free thinking as a base for a long time,” he said.

“They made us go through difficulties when decreasing the election age from 30 to 25. This means they don’t trust you,” he said.