Turkish President Erdoğan meets DEM Party delegation in key talks on peace and democratic reforms

ANKARA, Turkey — In a significant and rare meeting, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan hosted a delegation from the Peoples’ Equality and Democratic Party (Halkların Eşitlik ve Demokrasi Partisi, DEM Party) at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on Thursday. The discussions, described by the DEM Party as constructive and promising, centered on advancing peace initiatives and fostering democratic reforms in Turkey.

Led by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Sırrı Süreyya Önder and senior lawmaker Pervin Buldan, the DEM Party delegation emphasized the need to build a future free from violence and conflict. Following the meeting, the DEM Party issued a statement lauding the importance of the dialogue, which reviewed the reconciliation process and outlined the next steps.

“We believe that both the democratic political arena and peace-related activities will now advance more rapidly and with greater quality,” Önder remarked before the talks. The delegation also expressed gratitude to political parties and social institutions for their contributions, awareness, and constructive feedback throughout the process.

The meeting coincides with renewed efforts to address Turkey’s decades-long Kurdish issue. Since late last year, the DEM Party has facilitated indirect discussions between the Turkish government and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê, PKK). While the PKK, designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU, has declared a unilateral ceasefire and signaled willingness to uphold its leader Abdullah Öcalan’s call for peace, it has set conditions, including Öcalan’s release — terms Ankara has yet to accept.

The DEM Party delegation is expected to visit Öcalan on İmralı prison island to continue discussions. This development could mark a pivotal shift in Turkey’s approach to resolving the Kurdish issue and shaping its democratic future.