The Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) took to the streets across the country for May Day 2025 with massive participation. In 30 provinces, workers marched under the TKP banners.
On May 1, the Day of Unity, Struggle, and Solidarity of the Working Class, tens of thousands of workers gathered in İstanbul’s Kadıköy district despite the cold and rainy weather.
TKP set up a stage in Kadıköy
TKP set up a stage at the Söğütlüçeşme gathering area. Several artists took the floor, recited poems and performed marches and songs to energize the crowd.
TKP General Secretary Kemal Okuyan also delivered a speech here.
Secretary General Okuyan stated in his speech: “The condition of our world mirrors that of Turkey. 750 million people struggle to avoid starvation. 150 million have no shelter. The real number of unemployed is 450 million. 750 million people live without access to electricity. And 720 million people across the world live in extreme poverty. Their monthly income is approximately 2,400 lira or less. Dear comrades, I am reminding you all of this because what we suffer in Turkey is not unique. It is a reflection of the international system. This is not just our misery—it is the misery of billions. A tiny capitalists wallows in unimaginable wealth while the vast majority suffers! And now I ask you: are these bourgeois, the monopolists, the corporate bosses smarter than you? Are they?”
Following thunderous cries of “No!”, Okuyan continued: “Are they more hardworking than you?
The answer to ‘Why is it like this?’ is simple. A few have seized the world’s resources—energy, mines, factories, enterprises, farmland—and now people wonder why they are poor, hungry, homeless, or without electricity. This is why we’ve gathered in the rain. We demand our rights.”
Okuyan: We must seize political power
Asking, “What are our rights?”, Okuyan invoked the slogan, “Factories, fields, political power—everything shall belong to workers!”, and continued:
“That last part—political power—is the first thing we must claim. For our emancipation, those of us who raise our flags higher and shout ‘Long live May Day!’ must seize political power.”
“Turkey is a great country. We must grow in numbers,” Okuyan said, continuing:
“Today is International Workers’ Day. Some try to diminish this day into a day of festivities. What festivity? We are not in the mood for festivities, but we celebrate this day as a day of struggle and putting up a fight. First, we must recognize that we are all, above else, workers. Among us are retirees, who are condemned to die at the hands of this system. We must recognize the fact that retirees are workers. Among us are students, student workers who must work to afford education and support their families—they are part of the working class. Among us are couriers who endure elements darting about, scolded if late, turned into pseudo-entrepreneurs, run over in traffic—they are part of the working class.
Among us are miners buried alive underground, who produce value beneath the earth—they are part of the working class. Municipal workers, textile workers, kitchen and service staff, healthcare and education workers, office workers staring at screens for 10 hours a day—they are the working class. First and foremost, we must understand this fact. We must say, ‘We are workers’ and take political power. If we forget we are workers, they will continue to exploit us and force us to endure poverty. First, we understand that we are workers. Then we say: those who live by their labor, who create, who produce, who add value—do not need parasites or exploiters.”
“Workers to the party, the party to power”
Referring to Republic Day on October 29, Okuyan said: “We have a cherished day— the Republic Day. But we cannot even celebrate the Republic. Why? Because in the country built with the blood of poor peasants, workers and laborers have been reduced to the guests.”
“The parasites, the exploiters, the owners of holdings have taken over the entire country. We do not need them. That’s why we must seize political power. We must transfer nationalize everything, from top to bottom.”
Okuyan emphasized that taking political power for labor requires engaging in politics:
“Politics is not done in front of a TV or on social media. Politics is waged by fighting 20 hours in the rain if necessary. Politics is done in the streets, in factories, in schools—by defying this system. Politics is done in the party of the working class. Workers to the party, the party to power! With this resolve, long live revolution, long live socialism—for a socialist Turkey where we can truly celebrate May Day!”
