Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party held a high-level meeting on Tuesday with far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli in Ankara, signalling an unusual political overture between two ideologically opposed forces as debates around Kurdish rights, constitutional reform and political normalisation intensify.
The DEM Party delegation, led by co-chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan, met Bahçeli at the Turkish Grand National Assembly at 11:30 am (local time GMT+3). Also present were senior MHP figures including Deputy Chair Feti Yıldız and Deputy Speaker of Parliament Celal Adan. This was the second such meeting between the parties this year; Bahçeli also hosted a DEM Party delegation in January.
According to a DEM Party statement following the closed-door talks, the sides exchanged views on the evolving political climate in Turkey and the broader region. Key topics included the recent congress decision by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to dissolve itself, efforts toward a peaceful and democratic solution to the Kurdish issue, and a potential parliamentary commission to facilitate dialogue.
The DEM Party referenced its recent visit to İmralı prison—where Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan is held—and stressed that the national assembly should play a constructive role in moving forward with democratic reforms. Bahçeli reportedly emphasised the need for all political parties to engage actively in shaping this process and called for a fully authorised parliamentary commission to be formed.
The visit forms part of the DEM Party’s broader political outreach following the PKK’s 12 May announcement to dissolve. Recent visits have included Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and Islamist-rooted Democracy and Progress (DEVA) Party and Felicity Party (SAADET). The outreach continues with a scheduled meeting with ruling Justice and Devlopment (AKP) officials on Tuesday.
Related articles
Pro-Kurdish DEM Party meets opposition leaders in political dialogue pushTurkey peace talks: DEM Party proposes fully authorised parliamentary commission at opposition talks
Despite deep-rooted tensions, the DEM Party-MHP meeting suggests a shift toward institutional dialogue amid renewed domestic and regional pressures for democratic resolution.
