DEM Party’s ‘peace process’ talks continue, key meeting with main opposition CHP

The Kurdish-oriented Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) and Republican People’s Party (CHP) held a key meeting on the ongoing “peace process 2.0” in Ankara on Tuesday.

The CHP and DEM Party, Türkiye’s largest opposition parties, hold 130 and 57 seats in Parliament, respectively.

During the 2023 Türkiye’s general elections and 2024 local elections, the CHP and DEM Party held a tacit election alliance, which President Erdogan harshly criticized.

The CHP-DEM Party meeting lasted 1.5 hours behind closed doors. Ozel stated during a press conference: “We have previously stated that we, as the CHP, will contribute to all kinds of steps to be taken to eliminate Türkiye’s 50-year-old problem, to relieve tears of mothers, not to be shaken by our new martyrs, and not to suffer further losses.”

DEM Party’s Istanbul deputy, Sirii Sureyya Onder, stated: “We had a very comprehensive meeting. We listened to their suggestions, contributions and concerns… Because this is not a political maneuver of a narrow group but something that concerns the future of society, we have to listen to all of them. Because we owe our children and grandchildren a peaceful country.”

The DEM Party delegation has previously stated that, given the progress of further meetings with all stakeholders, positive developments can take shape in finding a lasting conclusion to the decades-long problem.

Dem Party set to meet with jailed HDP co-chairs

The DEM Party delegation will continue pushing forward, with expected meetings with the jailed co-chairs of the DEM Party’s predecessor People’s Democratic Party (HDP). Figen Yuksekdag and Selattin Demirtas.

They will also visit imprisoned Democracy Society Congress (DTK) co-chairwoman Leyla Guven.

Timeline of events

• Oct. 1: National Movement Party (MHP) chairman Devlet Bahceli shakes hands with DEM Party members.
• Oct. 22: Bahceli shocks Turkish politics by calling on imprisoned PKK founder and leader Abdullah Ocalan to address the Turkish Parliament and demand for the PKK to disband and disarm.
• Dec. 27: Justice Ministry allows DEM Party delegation to visit Ocalan in prison. Istanbul deputy Sureyya Onder, Van deputy Pervin Buldan, and Ahmet Turk pay a visit to Ocalan.
• Jan 2: DEM Party delegation meets with Speaker of Turkish 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 Parti) chairman Ahmet Davutoglu, and Felicity Party (Saadet Parti).
• Jan 7: DEM Party delegation holds a meeting with CHP chairman Ozgur Ozel.