German leftist politician Gregor Gysi has welcomed the recent statement by imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan, in which he called for the disarmament and dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on behalf of democratic transformation and re-building Turkey as a democratic republic. Öcalan’s decision, he emphasised, is aimed at paving the way for a democratic transformation of Turkey, ensuring that Kurdish aspirations for rights and recognition are pursued through political rather than armed struggle.
Gysi, a long-standing advocate for dialogue and conflict resolution, stressed the need for Turkey to seize this opportunity.
“The Turkish government must end all violence against Kurds in Turkey, Syria, and Iraq. A real peace process must begin,” he stated.
To ensure credibility, Gysi proposed the involvement of an independent and mutually respected mediator. He pointed to past efforts, particularly the Oslo Process, where an NGO supported by the UK facilitated talks between Turkish officials and PKK representatives in Norway in 2008. The location became synonymous with secret negotiations aimed at resolving the decades-long conflict.
“A neutral actor, like Norway once was, should oversee this process,” Gysi suggested.
A leading figure in Die Linke (German Left Party), Gysi has been one of Germany’s most widely respected politicians, consistently securing some of the highest personal votes in elections. His stance on international conflicts, human rights, and social justice has made him a key advocate for diplomatic solutions.
Beyond welcoming Öcalan’s statement, Gysi urged the European Union and Germany to push for the release of thousands of political prisoners in Turkey, arguing that this would be a logical step toward fostering trust in a peace process. In a significant move, he has formally requested to visit Öcalan in prison, submitting his request through the Turkish ambassador in Germany.
His remarks come amid growing support from Germany’s leftist political circles. Jan van Aken, co-chair of Die Linke, immediately shared a statement following Öcalan’s historic call, backing his appeal and demanding his release. Van Aken also urged the German government to remove the PKK from its list of banned organisations and called for Germany to play a more active role in mediating a peace process between Turkey and the Kurdish movement. Meanwhile, the German government has also acknowledged the significance of the moment, with the Foreign Office signalling its support for renewed diplomatic efforts.
“This could mark the beginning of a much-needed reconciliation between Kurds and Turks,” Gysi said, reinforcing his belief that political solutions, not military confrontations, will ultimately shape Turkey’s future.
