In “Family Year,” Erdoğan Government Proposes New Incentive for Mothers

Turkey’s government is preparing a new model for its interest-free marriage loan program, aiming to offer partial or full debt forgiveness for couples who have children. The move, part of the Family and Youth Fund initiative, is expected to be a key policy milestone in what President Erdoğan has dubbed the “Year of the Family.”

Child-Based Loan Forgiveness Under Discussion

According to official sources, the government is working on a plan to convert marriage loan debt into a form of child support. Under the new model, couples who take advantage of the interest-free loan and later have children may see their repayments reduced—or entirely canceled.

Each child born would trigger a corresponding reduction in loan obligations. The government is reportedly considering a range of options, including partial forgiveness for each child or full cancellation of the remaining debt.

A New Dimension in Family Support

Speaking about the upcoming changes, Enes Efendioğlu, Director General of Youth Services at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, said the government aims to support young people not just during marriage but throughout the process of starting a family.

“The marriage loan offered through the Family and Youth Fund is already interest-free and comes with a two-year grace period,” Efendioğlu explained. “Now we are exploring new ways to expand this support.”

He added that the idea of converting the loan into a form of child benefit is one of the options being evaluated:

“We’re considering the possibility that, through child assistance, the state may waive these debts entirely.”

Marriage Loans Already Popular Among Young Couples

The Family and Youth Fund’s interest-free marriage loan program has already gained significant traction among newlywed couples in Turkey’s earthquake-affected provinces, where the initiative was first launched. If implemented nationally with the proposed child-linked forgiveness model, the program could become a powerful tool to boost both marriage and birth rates.

IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE: PA Turkey intends to inform Turkey watchers with diverse views and opinions. Articles in our website may not necessarily represent the view of our editorial board or count as endorsement.

Follow our English language YouTube videos @ REAL TURKEY: REAL TURKEY YouTube Channel
And content at Twitter: @AtillaEng