Is DEM becoming a partner in the government and the state?

The arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and the subsequent events are very significant. Naturally, all attention has been focused on this issue. However, other very important developments are being overlooked or ignored in the meantime.

For example, the new government established in Syria under the leadership of HTS leader Ahmet Şara.

In recent months, MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli did not just initiate a PKK opening; he both prepared a constitutional proposal for Syria and established a new party there.

It was commented that the constitutional proposal, of which only the first three articles were announced, “points to a pluralistic, democratic, and inclusive model.”

Beyond this, Bahçeli, who recommended the establishment of a presidential government system in Syria just like in Turkey, said, “There are many diverse ethnic, religious, and belief groups there. It is of vital importance that all of these are represented in parliament. They must all be able to form parties and participate in elections. Their presence in parliament in proportion to the votes they receive contributes to social peace. Otherwise, it could lead to new turmoil in Syria, which is already suffering greatly.”

He then said that he very much wanted someone to name the party they established in Syria the “New Life Party.”

When Bahçeli wishes for something, does it not happen? It was reported that within almost a month, work had begun on establishing the “New Life Party,” that the slogan of the party, which is expected to play an important role in Syria's future, is “a new beginning for peace and prosperity,” and that its logo contains a “Crescent, Ababil Bird, Olive Branch, and 3 Stars.”

Naturally, it was thought that this party was/would be established under the leadership of the Turkmens, who are the largest community in Syria after the Arabs.

Like in Iraq: Turkmens Have No Name

As for the government that Şara established a few days ago; the pro-government media argued that the new government was “inclusive.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also welcomed the establishment of the transitional government and stated, “This step, taken following the organization of the National Dialogue Conference and the announcement of the Constitutional Declaration, demonstrates the Syrian administration's will to advance the political transition process in an inclusive manner, led and owned by the Syrians.”

Yet, our “man” Ahmet Şara even included an “LGBT-friendly,” “feminist” minister in the cabinet who makes the People's Alliance's hair stand on end, but did not make room for a single Turkmen!..

As far as I could follow, no one other than members of the IYI Party and the Victory Party (Zafer Partisi) reacted to the ignoring of the Turkmens.

IYI Party Adana Deputy Ayyüce Türkeş Taş said;

“It is unacceptable that the Turkmens, who paid the heaviest price in the Syrian revolution, will be represented in the Syrian administration by only a few bureaucrats. While the AKP government expresses its satisfaction with this cabinet without Turkmens in its statement, it has both accepted the division of Syria and signed off on it.”

Is she wrong? And hadn't we watched this movie exactly like this in Iraq?!

Continuing to Ignore, Not Hear, and Not Understand

It has been 34 days since the terrorist leader in Imralı made his call to the PKK, and there have been no developments.

Finally, Erdoğan said, “We do not have unlimited time and patience on this matter.”

Yesterday, the government's voice Abdülkadir Selvi also stated that this warning from Erdoğan was important and, while asking Qandil not to try to stall, gave the following response to the PKK members' statements that “This process cannot proceed without legal and judicial guarantees”:

“Are these included in Öcalan's call? No. These are not discussed issues. Putting forward new conditions based on undiscussed issues means stalling. Öcalan's call is very clear. The only condition is laying down arms and the organization dissolving itself. Past experiences have shown that it is impossible to take any step without the PKK laying down its arms.”

Hey, after the Imralı delegation read the terrorist leader's call, didn't Sırrı Süreyya Önder convey that Öcalan said as a last-minute note, “Laying down arms and the PKK's self-dissolution requires the recognition of democratic politics and the legal dimension”?.. Likewise, didn't the terrorist leader say this sentence himself in the video recording from Imralı?

It is obvious that they continue to try to deceive the nation by ignoring, not hearing, and not understanding!..

The Terrorist Leader's Paradigm

Another important sentence from the terrorist leader was this:

“As every contemporary society and party whose existence has not been forcibly ended would do voluntarily, gather your congress and make a decision for integration with the state and society...”

The meaning of this was also quite clear.

He had not only equated the separatist terrorist organization with a “contemporary society and party,” but had also spoken of “integrating with the state and society.”

In plain Turkish; he wanted the PKK to become politicized and become a partner with the state.

Since those in its current political extension, DEM, understood it this way, Selahattin Demirtaş, for example, said, “The Republic of Turkey is also the state of the Kurds... The state must now cast aside the monist official ideology and open all doors wide to the Kurds.”

Sabahat Tuncel, on the other hand, said this clearly:

“Kurds will govern themselves. But they will also take their place in the republic. There will be dual governance. This is the solution project.”

Bahçeli's New Constitution Opening

Bahçeli, whom we mentioned had prepared a new constitutional proposal for Syria in recent months, came with a new constitutional opening for Turkey the day before yesterday.

In his assessment to the MHP's publication, Türkgün Newspaper, Bahçeli spoke of a “national, participatory, inclusive, democratic new constitution” and emphasized the following:

“What is important is to build a structure that everyone believes they can find themselves in. For that reason, in the process of a Turkey without terrorism, we call on all our citizens to meet in national unity and brotherhood with the understanding of ‘Turkey above all else and everyone is equal to Turkey,’ and to build Turkey's auspicious future together.”

Who is there, other than the PKK members, who does not find themselves within our Constitution and does not consider themselves “equal,” that Bahçeli felt the need to say these things?!

Allegations of Quotas in the HSK and Two Ministries

The reason we are reminding you of all this is the very remarkable new allegations that have come to the agenda.

Hasan Oktay, President of the Caucasus Strategic Research Center (KAFKASSAM), who spoke to the Barzani media the other day, summarized the meaning and importance of the holiday greeting between the MHP and DEM and said;

- “In the coming days, perhaps for the first time through you, we will announce a surprise regarding the DEM Party. Perhaps we will face a process related to them taking part in the government.”

- “First of all, there is an election for the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) in the coming days, and a quota has been allocated to the DEM Party there.”

- “In the subsequent process, perhaps as in the MHP example, they will not be represented in a ministry, but they will undertake important duties in the government... The DEM Party is perhaps already negotiating with the government behind closed doors, but it is not possible for us to say anything because it has not yet materialized. But we should not be surprised if we hear that they are represented with two ministries... The DEM Party was constantly kept out of the system, but we will all see in the near future that the DEM Party will find an opportunity to implement its own views within the system in the coming process.”

- “After the election, an opportunity will be prepared for the DEM Party to engage in politics within the components of the People's Alliance.”

A “Revolutionary Process” Will Begin

Hasan Oktay made the following interesting assessment regarding Bahçeli's new constitution statement:

“There is very interesting information there. Rather than constitutional amendments, he focuses more on a peace and constitutional citizenship law that all segments of society can accept, but for the constitution to change, as I just stated, it is a process related to the DEM Party taking part in the government. Because the approval of 400 deputies is needed to change the articles in the constitution. In this context, some articles of the constitution can be rewritten through commissions to be formed by delegations of the DEM Party, AK Party, and MHP, and an agreement they will put forward... After the holiday, there will be a review of the articles regarding a constitution after the formation of delegations and especially after the DEM Party takes part in the government, either officially or unofficially. Not only Article 66, but perhaps other articles will also be reviewed, and a democratization process will accelerate. Here, what the Justice and Development Party focuses on most is the regulation of the articles regarding President Erdoğan being elected again. Of course, when this comes to the agenda, other parties are expected to make amendments to the constitution along with a compromise where they will put forward their own views in order for the Justice and Development Party to find the figure of 400. In this context, both the extremely important stance of Devlet Bahçeli regarding the opening process from the beginning and his latest article in Türkgün Newspaper are extremely important... The DEM Party's inclusion in the center and its participation in the government and decision-making process is truly very important. It will enable the start of a revolutionary process.”

If these allegations are true; it means the terrorist leader's “paradigm” is being implemented to the letter... If not, let's see if anyone comes out to deny it!!

Müyesser YILDIZ

April 2, 2025