DEM Party Co-Chair Bakırhan: 'Consensus Formed for Peace'

Tuncer Bakırhan, Co-Chair of the DEM Party, asserts that a significant political consensus has emerged in Turkey, paving the way for peace and a democratic society. Speaking to Cumhuriyet, Bakırhan highlighted the unprecedented nature of the current process, where the PKK has not only ceased hostilities but has also dissolved itself and destroyed its weapons. This decisive action, he argues, closes the door on any possibility of a return to armed conflict, marking a clear choice for democratic politics.

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A political consensus has formed; a commission has been established. These are not small developments. These are concrete expressions of a will that aims to overcome decades of pain, loss, and exhaustion.

Bakırhan pointed to the Turkish Parliament's (TBMM) response, including a special session on April 23rd and subsequent receptions, as evidence of this broad political agreement. He emphasized that for the first time in Turkish history, there is such widespread political consensus on resolving the Kurdish issue and achieving peace. The establishment of a commission to address these matters further underscores the gravity and historical significance of the current moment. He views these developments as concrete expressions of a will to overcome decades of pain, loss, and exhaustion.

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The legislative framework has not kept pace with the historical momentum of the process. The lack of a legal basis for the process has become the weakest link.

However, Bakırhan also voiced concerns regarding the pace of legal reforms, identifying them as the weakest link in the process. He stressed that the legislative framework has not kept pace with the historical momentum of the peace efforts. For the process to succeed, Bakırhan argued, the disarmament and the legal framework must advance in tandem, not sequentially. He sees positive signs, such as parliamentary discussions and the proposed 'Peace Monitoring and Follow-up Committee,' alongside President Erdoğan's message that there is no turning back from this process. The DEM Party, he concluded, approaches this process strategically, seeking lasting peace for all of Turkey rather than short-term gains, and calls for courage and determination alongside caution and deliberation.

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Disarmament and the legal framework must proceed in coordination, not with a 'one before the other' logic.