20.06.2026 15:50
Dr. Fatih Erbakan, Chairman of the New Welfare Party, said, "An electoral alliance with the Felicity Party is possible. It could be beneficial for these parties, which embrace the National Vision discourse and claim to follow the path of our Hodja Erbakan, to form an alliance in the elections. We are holding various discussions with the Felicity Party regarding this."
Dr. Fatih Erbakan, leader of the New Welfare Party, shared his party's power goals and solution proposals with the public at a press conference held in a restaurant in Istanbul. Starting his speech by wishing success to millions of students who sweated over the Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS), Erbakan said, “In all 39 districts of Istanbul, together with our Central Decision and Executive Board members, Deputy Chairpersons, and Members of Parliament, we are all in the field, and with this program, we will express to our nation that we are with them not only during election time but also during hard times.”
“THE NEW WELFARE PARTY IS TURKEY'S 3RD LARGEST PARTY”
Reminding that Necmettin Erbakan set out in 1969 with the aim of saving the nation, the Islamic world, and all humanity from material and spiritual troubles, Fatih Erbakan expressed the power his party has achieved today with these words: “Today, the New Welfare Party is Turkey's 3rd largest party in terms of both vote share and membership count. With its official membership approaching 670,000, it is Turkey's 3rd largest party by membership; with the 7% vote it received in the municipal council elections on March 31, it is again Turkey's 3rd largest party.”
“MILLIONS ARE BELOW THE HUNGER AND POVERTY LINE: THERE IS NO JUSTICE IN DISTRIBUTION”
Arguing that the root of Turkey's current problems lies in "injustice in distribution," Erbakan stated that they would take five fundamental steps if they come to power and criticized the current economic situation with the following data: “We will ensure justice in distribution; millions of retirees have been condemned to a salary of 20 thousand lira. Millions of minimum wage workers have been condemned to a salary of 28 thousand lira. The hunger line is approaching 40 thousand lira. The poverty line is approaching 110 thousand lira. Millions of villagers, farmers, and people engaged in agriculture and livestock are crushed under input costs, drowning in debt. Our civil servants are trying to survive on salaries of 50-60 thousand lira, half of the poverty line. Four minimum wages have become equal to one poverty line. So why are we in this state? Because there is no justice in distribution.”
“THE 80-YEAR ACCUMULATION OF THE REPUBLIC IS BARELY ENOUGH FOR ONE YEAR'S INTEREST PAYMENT”
Stating that resources that should be transferred to citizens are being sacrificed to interest, Erbakan harshly criticized the government's economic policy: “This year, the state announced that it will pay 60 billion dollars in interest. 60 billion dollars is just the money the government will pay as debt interest. With 60 billion dollars, you could give ten million minimum wage earners an extra salary from the state for twelve months. Can you imagine? That is, without any burden on the employer, you could raise the minimum wage to 56 thousand lira with the money you give to interest. You could build one million houses and distribute them for free to five million citizens, one million families, with the money you give to interest. And with the money you give to interest, the businesses you could establish could provide employment for over a million people; you could provide job opportunities for millions of unemployed youth. The total revenue from all privatizations carried out by AK Party governments over 26 years is 60 billion dollars. The money they give to interest in one year is also 60 billion dollars. 170 state enterprises have been sold off and destroyed; all the money obtained from them, the money obtained from selling the 70-80 year accumulations of the Republic, is barely enough for one year's, 12 months', interest payment.”
Erbakan stated that the second step they would take in their government would be to transfer the opportunities saved from privileged holdings, waste, and interest directly to the people with an "nation first" understanding.
“THOSE WHO PLACE FIRST IN THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE EXAM ARE ELIMINATED IN THE INTERVIEW”
Pointing to the collapse of the merit system in the public sector as the third fundamental problem, Erbakan drew attention to nepotism and favoritism with this striking example: “In Turkey, instead of qualification and merit, double standards, nepotism, and cronyism have become the currency. A brother of ours who scored 97 points, becoming Turkey's first in the written exam of the Ministry of Justice's promotion exam, is eliminated in the interview. The same person took this exam 3 years ago, scored 92 points, and was again eliminated in the interview. National Vision means qualification, merit, and justice. We will definitely implement this so that our nation finds happiness and peace; so that our youth do not dream of going abroad while still in university or even high school.”
“THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN CONTROL OF THE JUDICIARY: DIFFERENT LAW FOR THE RICH, DIFFERENT FOR THE POOR”
Emphasizing judicial independence as the fourth priority, Erbakan criticized the current legal system with these words: “The fourth thing we must ensure is justice in the judiciary. Without justice in the judiciary, there can be no happiness, peace, tranquility, or harmony in a country. Today, unfortunately, the government has taken control of the judiciary. Different law is applied to the government and different law to the opposition. Different law is applied to those with money and those close to the government; different law is applied to those not close to the government, those in opposition, those without money, and the poor. This is a situation completely contrary to our belief. A justice mechanism must be established where everyone is equal before the law, upholding right, not the powerful.”
Stating that spiritual development, along with material development, is among their priority goals, Erbakan claimed that the age of drug use is decreasing and there is serious moral and spiritual erosion. He stated that to prevent this, the education system needs to be restructured and the media should be regulated in line with national and spiritual values.
“OUR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WILL BE US AS THE PARTY CHAIRMAN”
Stating that they are making very serious preparations for the elections, from neighborhood organizations to ballot box chief observers and membership registrations, Erbakan said they have given the start for an early or on-time election and continued his speech with the following announcement: “By stating that our New Welfare Party will field its own candidate in the presidential elections, and that this will be us as the party chairman, we have actually given this start. And as we always say, we continue to work as if the election will be held this Sunday. Today, in Istanbul and also outside Istanbul, all over Turkey, we are continuing these efforts neighborhood by neighborhood, village by village, with 'prosperity in the neighborhood' programs, Anatolian meetings programs, booth programs, and tradesman visits. Therefore, as the New Welfare Party, we have actually given the election start a long time ago.”
“AN ELECTION ALLIANCE WITH THE FELICITY PARTY IS POSSIBLE”
Answering journalists' questions about alliance scenarios, Fatih Erbakan gave the green light for a possible partnership with the Felicity Party: “An election alliance with the Felicity Party is possible. It could be beneficial for these parties, which embrace National Vision discourses and claim to follow the path of our Hodja Erbakan, to be in an alliance for the elections. We are conducting various discussions with the Felicity Party regarding this.”
EMPHASIS ON "D-8 AND D-60" IN FOREIGN POLICY
Arguing that a fair world order where right, not might, prevails should be established under Turkey's leadership in foreign policy, Erbakan concluded his speech by drawing attention to the tragedies in the Islamic geography: “There is Gaza, there is East Turkestan, there is Kashmir, there is Arakan.”
{"text":"There are unjust attacks on Iran. Therefore, a step must be taken in the world, and a fair world where right, not force, prevails must be established under Turkey's leadership. When we live happily, peacefully, and prosperously in our own country but see Gaza, East Turkestan, Rohingya, and Kashmir, all our peace and happiness vanish. What needs to be done? The D-8 organization must be revived. As a second step, D-60 should be realized, bringing together 57 Muslim countries, and ensuring that the strategic resources and wealth of these Muslim countries are used as a sanction power against oppression. This depends on Turkey being governed with a National Vision stance."}