ANKARA – Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair Sezai Temelli said, “As Mr. Öcalan himself has emphasized, a determined negotiation ground must be established,” stressing that the resolution of the Kurdish issue requires direct dialogue and political will.
A year has passed since the debate on the solution to the Kurdish issue began on October 1, 2025, eventually evolving into the Peace and Democratic Society Process following Abdullah Öcalan’s call. With that call, the PKK announced its dissolution and held a symbolic ceremony of burning weapons to declare its commitment to disarmament.
A “National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission” was then established in parliament with the consensus of all represented parties except the İYİ Party. However, the commission has so far only listened to various social groups and has not taken further steps. Public demands for the commission to hear directly from Abdullah Öcalan , the main interlocutor of the process, remain unanswered.
Sezai Temelli underlined that democratic politics cannot progress without dialogue and that Öcalan must be engaged directly: “From the very beginning, the most accurate strategy has always been determined by Mr. Öcalan. He is the main actor of this process, and as the PKK has stated, he is the chief negotiator. We must acknowledge this reality and act accordingly. As Mr. Öcalan said himself, in earlier meetings we unfortunately experienced a period of stalling. The commission listened to various segments of society, which was right, but not through this method.”
‘LISTENING TURNED INTO DELAYING’
Temelli criticised the long, slow “listening process” adopted by the commission: “This method has created a perception of procrastination. The commission could have continued these hearings through subcommittees or other mechanisms. Of course, gathering opinions is necessary, but the main issue should have been creating a ground for democratic negotiation. That should have been prioritised. Mr. Öcalan’s criticism points in this direction. He has important preparations that must be shared with the commission. It is not about a single meeting, what’s needed is a regular, consistent negotiation process.”
‘A DETERMINED NEGOTIATION GROUND IS ESSENTIAL’
Temelli emphasized that a visit by the commission to İmralı Island would be a “critical turning point” for the process. “Such a visit is possible, and it would compensate for lost time. Now, much more seriously and intensively, a negotiation ground must be formed, as Mr. Öcalan has also emphasized. Since February 27, when he said, ‘I am implementing the strategy of democratic politics,’ it has been essential to create a healthy framework for negotiation with him. Of course, the internal negotiations within parliament are also important, but these must proceed in coordination with the main interlocutor, Mr. Öcalan.”
Temelli stated that Öcalan’s requests should be quickly met and regular visits to İmralı ensured. Temelli said: "There are very important groups who wish to go to the island, to listen, to learn, and to share their ideas with Mr. Öcalan. Until now, this has happened on a very limited level. The commission must take priority in this matter. Mr. Öcalan has repeatedly stated that transitional laws and legal guarantees are needed. He has preparations on these matters and must discuss them with the commission. We are at this stage now and must act immediately. Following such talks, parliament must take the necessary steps to implement democratic mechanisms that provide legal security.”
‘THE FIRST STEP SHOULD BE THE RIGHT TO HOPE’
Asked where the process should begin, Temelli said it must rest on two main pillars. “The first pillar should be legal reforms, especially regarding the ‘right to hope,’ life imprisonment without parole, and inequalities in sentencing" he said and added: "The right to hope can be guaranteed, the practice of aggravated life imprisonment, which is a violation of human rights, must end, and the injustices in current sentencing must be resolved.”
Temelli described the second pillar as providing legal and political guarantees for return and participation in politics: “Those returning under disarmament must be ensured legal protection and the right to participate in democratic politics. Disarmament, legal security, and political participation are interconnected dynamics. A program must be developed for this, and both parliament and the administration must reorganize themselves accordingly. We have entered a new period. Since February 27, the circumstances show that we are in a new phase. We must act seriously, sincerely, and quickly, the old rhetoric cannot solve new realities.”
‘TURKEY’S FOREIGN POLICY LACKS RATIONALITY’
Temelli argued that Turkey’s foreign policy, especially toward the Middle East, has been irrational, pointing to Syria as the core of this problem. “As the anniversary of the Kobanê resistance approaches, we can clearly see that Turkey’s foreign policy has been shaped by a misguided, irrational strategy. It must change this. The democratic solution of the Kurdish question is directly linked to it. Seeing the Kurds of Syria as a threat is a completely wrong approach, just as treating every domestic issue as a matter of ‘terrorism’ is wrong. This mentality has led Turkey into deep crisis.”
Temelli said that exiting this misguided foreign policy is only possible through the democratic nation approach: “Peace and democratization in the four parts of Kurdistan depend on the Kurdish people’s status, freedom, and participation in democratic life. This is one of the central principles of Mr. Öcalan’s paradigm. The democratization of Syria is directly linked to democratization and peace in Turkey. The main dynamic that enables this relationship is Rojava and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).”
‘EVERYONE WANTS A DEMOCRATIC SOLUTION’
Temelli concluded that a large part of society supports the process: “Everyone wants this issue to be solved on a democratic ground. It is clear that the democratic solution to the Kurdish question is the only option. Yes, it will be a long and challenging road, but we must be determined and continue walking it.”
MA / Omer Gungor