“If this problem is to be solved, it will be through democratisation under the parliamentary roof,” said Özgür Özel, leader of Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), during a parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday, referring to renewed discussions on the Kurdish issue. His remarks come amid growing political debate following jailed Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan’s call for disarmament and political reconciliation.
Özel made it clear that his party will not participate in any secret negotiations, emphasising that a transparent and democratic process is essential. “If such a problem is to be solved, it will only be under the roof of Parliament. It is not possible to find a solution while journalists, Gezi protest detainees, Kurdish and Turkish local administrators remain imprisoned, and while the practice of appointing government trustees continues,” he stated.
The CHP leader also criticised President Erdoğan’s past handling of peace talks, recalling the collapse of negotiations in 2015. “We know how this process was dragged into disaster by Erdoğan back then. Today, we see the same mistaken approach. Just as the Dolmabahçe talks were first set up and then denied by Erdoğan himself, we are once again witnessing a similar contradiction,” he said.
Özel also addressed the government’s stance on imprisoned Kurdish politicians, including former Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş. “The government has normalised meetings with the opposition when it suits its interests, but it still refuses to acknowledge the unjust detentions of people like Demirtaş and Osman Kavala,” he said. “The same politicians who once called CHP members ‘terrorists’ for meeting with the DEM Party now facilitate negotiations themselves without any accountability.”
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş was also urged to take a more active role in facilitating dialogue. “Mr Kurtulmuş must assume greater responsibility. If the government is sincere about resolving this issue, then democratic steps should be taken, not backroom deals,” Özel added.
His speech underlined broader concerns about democratic backsliding in Turkey, referencing the government’s failure to implement Constitutional Court rulings. “How can we speak of democracy when judicial decisions in favour of Demirtaş, Kavala, and Can Atalay are ignored?” he asked.
Özel’s remarks come as the political climate in Turkey remains tense, with renewed debates on Kurdish rights, political prisoners, and the role of Parliament in resolving long-standing issues. His emphasis on a parliamentary solution marks CHP’s attempt to position itself as a key actor in any future peace efforts, while also challenging Erdoğan’s past and present handling of the Kurdish question.
