On 9 November, the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party held an urgent board meeting and issued a statement calling for a peaceful, democratic solution to the Kurdish question, an end to the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan and urgent reform of Turkey’s trustee policy. The statement comes amid escalating tensions following recent developments, including the appointment of trustees in Kurdish-majority municipalities, increased military action in northern Syria and comments by the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Devlet Bahçeli, suggesting a conditional dialogue on the Kurdish issue.
The DEM Party stressed that Turkey’s most pressing problem remains the unresolved Kurdish question, which has now reached a critical point with regional and international dimensions. According to the statement, a peaceful solution is essential for the democratic future of the country and cannot be ignored in the current global and Middle Eastern context. “Like lands in need of water, our country is yearning for social peace,” the party said, underlining the urgency of a solution that includes all social groups.
The party also stressed the importance of ending the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan, noting that his involvement is vital for a lasting peace. Citing the recent visit by Öcalan’s family to see him on İmralı Island, the DEM Party reiterated that he must be a negotiating partner in any peace process. “Öcalan’s role is fundamental for a lasting peace and a democratic solution,” the statement said, adding that ending his isolation was a “historical responsibility” necessary to “increase the hope for social peace and give substance to a democratic solution”.
The DEM Party also criticised the Turkish government’s appointment of trustees, describing the practice as “poisoning the social atmosphere”. The statement argued that the replacement of elected mayors with state-appointed trustees undermines public trust and democratic representation and creates crises of governance in the Kurdish regions.
The DEM Party reaffirmed its commitment to playing an active and constructive role in the peace process, arguing that the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) should be a platform for dialogue and democratic negotiation. The party prioritised legal and constitutional reforms to protect the cultural and identity rights of all citizens, adding that “the Kurdish issue must not be reduced to a narrow, short-term political agenda. It is essential that the democratic aspirations of the Kurdish people are not sacrificed for small gains.”
In its closing remarks, the DEM Party called on all democratic forces in Turkey – including the political opposition, civil society and community leaders – to unite in a common struggle for peace. It urged the government to take concrete steps towards a democratic solution to the Kurdish question, which it saw as crucial not only for Turkey’s stability but also as a potential model for peace in the wider Middle East.
