Turkish PM advises children not to be ‘slaves to TV’

ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan(L) and Nermin İrem Kocakalay(R) who became prime minister for a few hours as part of April 23 celebrations. İrem cried while describing her dream. AA Photo

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called on children not to be “slaves to television” and to play outdoors instead, speaking on the National Sovereignty and Children’s Holiday, as he was replaced in the prime minister’s chair by a young girl for a few hours as part of an April 23 tradition.

“Please do not spend too much time with TVs and computers. I advise this as a father as a grandfather. We build parks for you to play in. Don’t stay at home. Don’t be a slave to TV. Go out,” Erdoğan told a group of children visiting him at his office.

Nermin İrem Kocakalay, a young student from the southern province of Mersin, became prime minister for a few hours as part of April 23 celebrations. She cried while describing her dream in which she was a prime minister and had a magic wand, saying she was building parks for children and enabling them to find jobs.

The tradition of seating children at government posts on April 23 will continue in the future, Erdoğan also said, upon a question.