DEM Party Delegation to Meet Turkish Political Leaders on Ocalan’s Message
The discussions are expected to shape the political landscape amid growing interest in Ocalan’s call for PKK disarmament and the broader Kurdish issue in Turkey.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The People's Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) is set to hold a new round of meetings with political parties across Turkey to discuss the recent message of Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
The discussions are expected to shape the political landscape amid growing interest in Ocalan’s call for PKK disarmament and the broader Kurdish issue in Turkey.
The DEM Party delegation, led by co-chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakirhan, has a packed schedule of meetings this month. The delegation will meet with the Labor Party on Monday, followed by a visit to the headquarters of the Republican People's Party (CHP).
These meetings are expected to address Ocalan’s message, its implications for Turkey’s security policies, and the broader peace process.
Further discussions are scheduled for Wednesday when the delegation will hold talks with the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) in Parliament. Later in the month, on March 17, 2025, the delegation will visit the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) headquarters for a pivotal meeting with party leader Devlet Bahçeli.
Bahçeli and Demirtaş’s Unprecedented Dialogue
Amid this wave of political discussions, a surprising phone conversation between Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and Selahattin Demirtaş, former co-chair of the HDP, has caught political observers’ attention.
On Sunday, journalist Nagehan Alçı of Haberturk reported that Bahçeli personally called Demirtaş to express gratitude for his support of the peace process. This unprecedented exchange has fueled speculation about possible political realignments in Turkey.
According to Alçı, during the call, Bahçeli thanked Demirtaş for endorsing peace efforts, which followed Ocalan’s public call for the PKK to disarm and dissolve itself. In response, Demirtaş expressed goodwill and wished Bahçeli, Erdoğan, and Ocalan a long life, signaling a potential shift toward reconciliation among historically opposing factions.
This development follows a Jan. 2, 2025, meeting in Ankara, where a DEM Party delegation comprising Süreyya Önder, Pervin Buldan, and Ahmet Türk met Devlet Bahçeli in a bid to establish channels for dialogue on Kurdish rights and national unity.
Ocalan’s Message on PKK Disarmament
The ongoing political maneuvering was set into motion after Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK’s imprisoned leader, released a landmark statement on Feb. 27, 2025. Following a meeting with the Imrali delegation, Ocalan’s message was publicly delivered in both Kurdish and Turkish during a press conference.
In his statement, Ahmet Türk, the dismissed mayor of Mardin Metropolitan Municipality, read Ocalan’s words, emphasizing the need to prioritize peace and democracy over armed struggle:
“The PKK was established when the path to democracy was blocked; furthermore, the language of peace and democracy must be advanced.”
The message took a historic turn when Ocalan openly called for the dissolution of the PKK, stating:
“The PKK must lay down its weapons, convene a congress, and dissolve itself. I take responsibility for this decision.”
The DEM Party’s diplomatic engagements with Turkey’s major political parties signal a potential new phase in the Kurdish peace process. Ocalan’s call for disarmament and Bahçeli’s outreach to Demirtaş suggest a political climate that is more open to negotiations than in previous years.
However, the success of these efforts depends on how Turkey’s ruling and opposition parties respond to the unfolding developments.
