The Kurdish question and the fight for women’s rights are fundamental democratic challenges that have remained unresolved throughout Turkey’s first century, Gültan Kışanak said, Ankara mayoral candidate for the pro-Kurdish People’s Equality and Democracy Party (DEM), in an interview with T24 on Sunday.
During the interview, the imprisoned politician shed light on critical issues facing Turkey today, highlighting politics of polarisation, the Kurdish question and the search for a democratic, inclusive future.
Despite more than seven years in prison, Kışanak’s determination and vision for peace and democracy remain unshaken, offering a fresh perspective on political engagement and the potential for transformative change in Turkey.
When asked about the possible outcome of the upcoming local elections, Kışanak replied: “I have focused more on the electoral process and the political achievements of our campaign than on the outcome of the elections. The ‘democratic, resilient, social politics’ that we will unleash in Ankara will make an important contribution to the politics of the coming period.”
Kışanak’s candidacy represents a bold challenge to the status quo, with her use of dialogue and direct engagement.
Drawing on a rich political background, including tenure as an MP and co-mayor of Diyarbakır, Kışanak expressed commitment to spreading an ethos of peace and mutual understanding from the Kurdish political heartland to the wider Turkish landscape.
“If we have lost the needle in the haystack, we have to search the haystack if we want to find it,” she said.
Kışanak underlined the gravity of the Kurdish conflict, criticising its exploitation for political gain and emphasising the need for a fresh start. Reflecting on past attempts to resolve the issue, she stressed the importance of collective efforts across all sectors of society to revive the peace process.
The interview also touched on the potential for dialogue between the DEM and other political entities, including the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Kışanak stated that she advocates a politics of dialogue rather than exclusion, envisioning a political landscape where engagement and cooperation transcend electoral cycles.
She also criticised the current political discourse, which often reduces democracy to electoral transactions, and called for political dialogue to be elevated to a more principled and substantive level.
At the end of the interview, Kışanak reflected on the future of Turkey after the upcoming local elections. She rejected pessimism and embraced a hopeful outlook, emphasising the power of collective action and the enduring spirit of struggle.
Sharing her mother’s wisdom, she said, “The easiest thing is to eat the food in front of you, but even that cannot be swallowed without chewing,” adding, “Those who wait for a saviour always lose. It is necessary to strive, to struggle, to work. And from the heart…”
