DEM Party visits former HDP co-Chair Demirtas in prison, secures support

The Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) delegation, consisting of Istanbul deputy Sirri Sureyya Onder, Van deputy Pervin Buldan and Ahmet Turk, met with former Peoples’ Democrat Party (HDP) co-Chair Selahattin Demirtas in prison in Edirne on Saturday.

Demirtas, the former co-chair of the Kurdish-oriented HDP who is currently imprisoned in Edirne, stated in a message shared on his social media account following a visit by the DEM Party delegation that he has “full trust and support” for the DEM Party and PKK terrorist organization imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan.

The DEM Party delegation will visit former HDP co-chair Figen Yuksekdag, who is held in Kocaeli Kandira Prison, on Sunday, Jan. 12.

DEM Party delegation’s contacts and Ocalan’s messages

On Dec. 28, DEM Party’s Buldan and Onder held a meeting with PKK leader Ocalan at Imrali Island prison. Following the meeting, Buldan and Onder made a written statement, which included Ocalan’s messages.

In the statement, Ocalan said, “I also possess the skills and determination to positively contribute to the new paradigm supported by Mr. Bahceli and Mr. Erdogan,” indicating a positive attitude toward the ongoing process.

He further stated, “This approach of mine will be shared with both the state and political circles. Based on this, I am ready to take the necessary positive steps and make the call.”

Since then DEM Party delegation has been meeting with key political parties of Türkiye in closed-door meetings.

Timeline of ‘peace process 2.0’

• Oct. 1: MHP leader Devlet Bahceli shakes hands with DEM Party members at Parliament.
• Oct. 22: Bahceli shocks Turkish politics by calling on imprisoned PKK founder and leader Abdullah Ocalan to address Parliament and demand for the PKK to disband and disarm.
• Dec. 28: Justice Ministry allows DEM Party delegation to visit Ocalan in prison. Istanbul deputy Sureyya Onder, Van deputy Pervin Buldan and Ahmet Turk pay visit to Ocalan.
• Jan. 2: DEM Party delegation meets with Speaker of Parliament Numan Kurtulmus and holds a key meeting with MHP chairman Bahceli.
• Jan. 6: DEM Party delegation meets with AK Party delegation, Future Party (Gelecek) chairman Ahmet Davutoglu and Felicity Party (Saadet).
• Jan. 7: DEM Party delegation holds a meeting with CHP chairman Ozgur Ozel.
• Jan. 9: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Bahceli hold a meeting together to discuss domestic and foreign matters, specifically on “peace process 2.0”. 
• Jan. 11: DEM Party delegation to visit HDP’s imprisoned co-chair Demirtas in Edirne.