The Kurdistan National Congress issued a statement on Monday analysing the outcomes of the 31 March local elections in Turkey, marking them as a significant triumph for proponents of social equality and political change in Kurdish regions and Turkey.
The Congress highlighted the victory of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party which secured 81 mayorships despite the elections being held under “highly unequal conditions,” including the bussing in of Turkish security personnel as ‘transported voters’ and instances of vote tampering. The KNK celebrated the results as a testament to the resilience and determination of the Kurdish people.
The Congress also highlighted the appointment of trustees in Kurdish provinces as “the most serious unlawful act in the last two local elections,” viewing it as an attempt to undermine the Kurdish electorate’s will through blackmail and oppression. This was further compounded by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) alliance’s efforts to marginalise Kurdish voices if they did not align with government preferences. However, the Kurdish people’s robust response to the elections was described as “spectacular”, effectively countering state-sponsored intimidation and oppressive policies.
The stance of the Kurdish populace was framed as a direct counter-response to the Turkish state’s annexation policies, its intimidation strategies and the continued isolation of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan, in violation of international law. The statement underscored that the Kurdish people’s clear rejection of the AKP-MHP’s security policies and their call for democratic values should not be ignored by international actors or sacrificed for traditional interstate interests.
Finally, the KNK extended its congratulations to the Kurdish people, the DEM Party and all participating civil society members for their electoral achievements, expressing hope for the newly elected mayors and emphasising the importance of their roles in serving the communities across Kurdish regions. It also reiterated the call for an international approach grounded in peace and justice towards the Kurdish issue.
