Turkish parliamentarian and Deputy Speaker Sırrı Süreyya Önder was rushed into emergency surgery late Tuesday after suffering a life-threatening cardiovascular event, according to statements from his party and hospital officials. The 62-year-old İstanbul MP from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party remains in critical condition in intensive care.
Önder, a well-known figure in Turkish politics and a key player in past peace negotiations between the Turkish state and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), suffered cardiac arrest on the evening of 15 April. He was brought to hospital unconscious and without a pulse, the hospital said.
Doctors confirmed that Önder had experienced a Type 1 Aortic Dissection—a catastrophic rupture of the aorta. He was resuscitated after 10 minutes of CPR. A second cardiac arrest occurred shortly after, prompting an emergency operation lasting nearly 12 hours.
“Due to the extensive nature of the dissection and the involvement of the coronary artery, the right side of his heart is not contracting properly, though the left side is functioning well,” the hospital noted after the surgery.
Önder’s condition is described as “critical and life-threatening” and he remains on life-support in intensive care.
The news has triggered widespread concern and support across Turkey. Leaders from multiple political parties, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, are said to be closely following the developments.
DEM Party co-chair Tülay Hatimoğulları, speaking in front of the hospital, emphasised Önder’s resilience. “He has been through many difficult times. We believe he will overcome this challenge as well,” she told reporters.
Party spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan addressed the media early Wednesday. “We are counting the minutes to share good news with you,” she said, describing Önder as a man who had “witnessed and endured heavy events” and as “a person of great strength”. The operation was expected to take some time, she noted, stressing that the surgery had been on-track.
The DEM Party had also issued an official statement confirming that Önder, who also serves as a member of the İmralı Delegation—tasked with monitoring peace talks between the Turkish state and the PKK—was undergoing heart surgery. They called for public solidarity and voiced hope for a swift recovery, noting that the Ministry of Health and the İstanbul Governor’s Office were overseeing his care.
Önder, a former filmmaker, writer, and journalist, became a prominent political figure during the 2013 Gezi Park protests and later in the peace process initiated with jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. As part of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), DEM Party’s predecessor, he played a key role in parliamentary diplomacy and inter-party dialogue.
His influence extended beyond politics, often acting as a cultural bridge and voice for minority rights in Turkey. Known for his oratory skills and candid public statements, Önder has long been viewed as a figure of conscience across diverse ideological camps.
Political leaders and public figures across Turkey have expressed concern and solidarity via social media, with hashtags related to his condition trending nationally. Despite the critical prognosis, party members and supporters remain hopeful. “Being difficult does not mean it will not be successful,” said Doğan.
As of Wednesday afternoon, no further official update had been issued by the hospital regarding Önder’s condition. His colleagues, party co-chairs, and parliamentary team remain gathered at the hospital in İstanbul, awaiting signs of recovery.
