TURKEY: DEM Party and AKP hold talks on democratic transition framework

ANKARA — Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (Halkların Eşitlik ve Demokrasi Partisi, DEM Party) Co-Chairs Tulay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırkhan engaged in talks with representatives of the ruling Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, AKP) on advancing a new democratic and legal framework for Turkey. The discussions come in the wake of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê, PKK) announcement to cease armed operations and an apparent consensus among major political parties to uphold democracy, the rule of law, and citizen equality.

The AKP delegation included Deputy Chair Efkan Ala, Spokesperson Ömer Çelik, Parliamentary Group Chair Abdullah Güler, and Deputy Chair Özlem Zengin. Completing the DEM Party delegation were Deputy Chair of the Parliamentary Group Güllistan Kılıç Koçyiğit and MP Sezai Temelli, a former DEM Party chair.

Following the meeting, the DEM Party released a statement highlighting an in-depth discussion on shaping Turkey’s democratic transition and the role of the Grand National Assembly in this process. Both sides explored the potential formation of a special committee to oversee the transition.

The delegations also examined recent national and regional dynamics, including PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan’s call for peace, the DEM Party’s Imrali delegation’s recent discussions with Öcalan, the decisions of the 12th Congress of the PKK, and the subsequent developments.

A central point of the DEM Party’s statement was the urgency of amending laws related to the implementation of prison sentences, particularly for sick prisoners. The party emphasized the need to enact these changes ahead of the upcoming Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, signaling that such measures could serve as a goodwill gesture by the ruling parties.

This dialogue represents a significant step in Turkey’s ongoing efforts to navigate its political and social challenges through democratic reform.