In a powerful address marking the opening of Turkey’s parliamentary session, Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party MP and Deputy Speaker Pervin Buldan called on lawmakers to prioritise building peace and democracy on Tuesday, saying “the parliament must lead” efforts to achieve a just future for the country’s 86 million citizens.
Buldan, a prominent Kurdish politician and former member of the İmralı Delegation involved in past peace talks, began her speech by honouring jailed politicians and commemorating the late Sırrı Süreyya Önder, a former MP renowned for his commitment to dialogue and peaceful resolution.
“Peace is entrusted to this Parliament,” she declared, urging lawmakers to rekindle the spirit of the defunct peace process negotiations between the Turkish state and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) that collapsed in 2015.
Her remarks came amid continued political polarisation, increasing pressure on opposition figures, and growing calls for democratic reforms in Turkey. She named several imprisoned political figures including Figen Yüksekdağ, Selahattin Demirtaş, and Leyla Güven—key Kurdish and leftist politicians jailed in recent years—while also referencing İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and Can Atalay, an MP elected from prison, as “the will of Hatay”.
Buldan described her new position in Parliament as a “trust”, not power, pledging to represent all segments of society—especially women, the oppressed and the voiceless. “I will act with democratic principles and a pluralist understanding, ensuring all views can be freely expressed,” she said.
Paying tribute to the late Önder, who passed away earlier this year, Buldan recalled his belief that “peace is a noble effort” and praised his role in advocating a non-confrontational and human-centred politics. “He brought the people into this assembly,” she said, describing his legacy as a model for future democratic engagement.
She also commemorated Hamit Geylani, a former MP from Hakkâri, and Ferdi Zeyrek, a late mayor from Manisa, framing their public service as rooted in equality and respect for all.
The call for peace comes at a time when the Turkish government continues to prosecute and detain Kurdish politicians and activists, accusing many of links to the outlawed PKK. Critics, including international human rights groups, argue these actions are part of a broader crackdown on dissent.
While Buldan did not directly reference the government or President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, her speech carried an implicit challenge to the ruling party: that lasting peace and democracy require inclusive dialogue and legislative leadership.
“A new social contract based on societal consensus is the most urgent agenda item before us,” she said, framing the Parliament not merely as a legislative body, but as the moral and political centre for peacebuilding.
Concluding her speech, Buldan invited all MPs—regardless of political affiliation—to continue the legacy of her late colleague. “Let us all become leaders of peace together,” she said, underscoring a shared responsibility for national reconciliation.
Her remarks mark a renewed attempt by Kurdish political figures to reinsert the peace agenda into national politics, nearly a decade after negotiations with the Turkish state were suspended.
