Turkey’s new peace commission convenes, DEM Party urges decentralization and inclusive governance

ANKARA — In a moment widely regarded as historic, the Turkish Parliament’s newly formed Peace and Democracy Commission held its inaugural session in Ankara this week, opening the door to a potentially transformative process aimed at reshaping the country’s approach to governance, equality, and civic inclusion.

While the commission’s roots lie in Turkey’s decades-long Kurdish issue, political leaders across the spectrum — particularly from the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (Halkların Eşitlik ve Demokrasi Partisi, DEM Party) — are steering the conversation toward a broader, systemic rethinking of the country’s democratic structure. DEM Party officials emphasized the need for decentralized governance, local autonomy, and structural reforms that ensure collective rights and political participation for all communities in Turkey.

The 51-member commission, officially launched on 31 July, was created with support from across the political spectrum and includes representatives from all parliamentary parties. It follows the 27 February declaration by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê, PKK) announcing disarmament — a move sparked by an appeal from imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş (Justice and Development Party, AKP), who chaired the first meeting, described the commission as representing “98 percent of the nation’s political will,” calling it “a platform for unity, fraternity, and democratic transformation.” He promised transparency and inclusivity throughout the process, noting that its goal is not only peace but the construction of a democratic future.

Taking the floor during the meeting, DEM Party Co-Chair and parliamentary group leader Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit outlined a vision that moves far beyond conflict resolution. “We are not merely here to address a single issue,” she said. “We are here to reimagine the democratic foundations of this country — to build a system that guarantees rights, pluralism, and equal citizenship for all.”

Central to the DEM Party’s recommendations is a demand for decentralization and strengthened local governance. “Democratic participation must include collective rights,” Kılıç Koçyiğit asserted. “Decision-making processes should not be top-down but rooted in the principle of local self-government.”

She criticized the state’s increasing reliance on centrally appointed trustees, or kayyums, replacing elected local officials — particularly in Kurdish-majority municipalities — as a violation not only of Kurdish rights but of Turkish democracy itself. “Respect for the popular will is a prerequisite for legitimate governance,” she said.

Kılıç Koçyiğit emphasized that the country’s problems are interconnected. “This is not just about Kurds,” she said. “The lack of democratic norms affects women, workers, religious minorities, and all marginalized groups. You cannot have democracy without equality — and you cannot have equality without decentralization.”

Her remarks were echoed by civil society groups such as the Federation of Syriac Associations in Turkey (Süryani Dernekler Federasyonu, SÜDEF) which has called on the commission to ensure that Turkey’s Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) population — historically marginalized and displaced — is included in the democratic future envisioned by the process.

Also Read: SÜDEF President Evgil Türker: The current Turkish-Kurdish peace talks could have a profound positive impact for Syriacs, and we should all embrace this 

SÜDEF emphasized the need for the commission to prioritize education in native languages, cultural autonomy, and equitable access to public services for Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) communities in southeastern provinces. “Democracy cannot be partial,” said a SÜDEF spokesperson. “Our schools, our language, and our right to political representation must be protected.”

While the Kurdish issue remains the impetus behind the commission’s formation, DEM Party leaders are clear that conflict resolution alone is insufficient. “Ceasing hostilities is not peace,” Kılıç Koçyiğit warned. “Lasting peace requires a political framework that is democratic, inclusive, and just.”

She advocated for a new constitutional framework that enshrines equality, minority rights, and decentralization — a structure in which citizens are not merely voters but active participants in governance. “The goal must be a democratic republic built on coexistence and shared responsibility,” she said.

Analysts and human rights organizations have cautiously welcomed the commission, noting that its success will depend on whether its proposals are implemented in good faith. Past efforts at reconciliation — including the 2013–2015 peace process — collapsed under political strain.

Yet this new commission, born in the wake of a rare act of disarmament and sustained political will, may offer a second chance.

“We owe it to all our peoples — Turks, Kurds, Syriacs, Alevis, and more — to make democracy real,” Kılıç Koçyiğit concluded. “This commission is a historic opportunity. Let’s not waste it.”

The Peace and Democracy Commission was formed after Abdullah Öcalan’s call for a peaceful resolution to the decades-long Kurdish-Turkish conflict. With broad parliamentary support, it aims to draft recommendations for democratic reform, local governance, and civic equality. The DEM Party, as one of the main opposition parties, seeks to reframe the debate from ethnicity to democratic structure — a shift that may redefine the future of Turkish politics.