Pervin Buldan reveals: State delegation meets with Öcalan without us

MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli is the architect of the second peace process, which the government calls Terror-Free Turkey, being conducted with the DEM Party and Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the terrorist organization PKK. As eyes turn toward legal regulations, striking statements have come from the DEM Party front.

DEM Party Imralı Delegation Member Pervin Buldan spoke about the process. Responding to questions from Cansu Çamlıbel of T24, Buldan stated that the draft law prepared for PKK terrorists has not yet reached them and said:

“It would be problematic for the draft law to be brought to the general assembly without being discussed with Öcalan. Öcalan does not make decisions without consulting his own organization. The way must be cleared for him to discuss the draft law with his own organization.”  

Explaining a first that occurred during the 5-hour Imralı meeting on March 27, Buldan responded to the question, “The March 27, 2026 meeting took place in the form of negotiations between two parties. Is that correct?” by saying, “Let’s call it a meeting where the state and Mr. Öcalan primarily established a dialogue.”

"THE STATE DELEGATION GOES AND MEETS WITH ÖCALAN WITHOUT US"

Avoiding disclosing the names of those who participated in the meeting on behalf of the state delegation, Buldan stated, “As someone who participated in the meeting, I do not think it would be very appropriate for me to share who was in the state delegation. We find the meeting itself more important than the names. But the state delegation already goes and holds meetings with Mr. Öcalan without us.”

"AS A DELEGATION, WE SOMETIMES HOLD CLOSED-DOOR MEETINGS, WE DON'T TELL ANYONE ABOUT THIS"

Stating that there are mutual expectations regarding the process, Buldan continued her words as follows:

“There are some concrete steps expected not only by the state but actually by the PKK or Mr. Öcalan as well. I am speaking about the expectations from both sides. These issues were discussed a bit. For example, the state delegation has expectations regarding the PKK taking more concrete steps. Because the state says, ‘We have not seen a concrete step since the weapon-burning ceremony.’

The state also says this to the public, yes. The other side says, “We also do not see concrete steps in the name of democratization.” Starting from the issue of the high public expectation regarding the reversal of the trustee appointments, expectations have not been met in any area. Names like Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ are still in prison. There is pressure on the CHP, and there are operations and arrests every day. Ultimately, the opposition is also a part of this business, and trustee appointments are still continuing. These are, of course, being talked about and have been talked about. Sometimes closed, sometimes open, there are actually many things that are visible or invisible, known or unknown. Some of these are done openly, some are reflected to the public, and some are not. For example, we as a delegation sometimes hold closed-door meetings. We don't tell anyone about this.”

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Sharing the details of their conversation with AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan regarding the operations against CHP municipalities, Buldan said:

"We bring up the CHP issue in our meetings with President Erdoğan. We say, “The pressure on the CHP must stop.” He doesn't give a 'no' answer. Let me put it this way; in our meetings with the President, we are generally the ones talking. You know, state officials are also there. They talk too. The President is in a position of listening, but ultimately he also stands in a place where he expresses his wishes. However, I would like to specifically state that such issues are not discussed."

Buldan stated that Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the terrorist organization PKK, is uncomfortable with the operations against the CHP and noted the following:

“We don't need to explain this issue to Mr. Öcalan; he is already following it. He is constantly watching. He is quite uncomfortable with what is being done to the CHP. He expresses it from time to time. Because this process is not a process that only concerns the Kurds. Or it is not a process that will only guarantee the future of the Kurds. It is a process that will concern the entire Turkish society in the future.

Okay, the CHP is taking ownership of the process, they provided members to the commission, and the members in the commission really made very great contributions to the emergence of the report. Mr. Özgür Özel’s statements and support are very valuable from our perspective. However, Mr. Öcalan thinks that they should take a little more ownership of the process. Sometimes he expresses this. He has words to the effect that the CHP should take bolder steps. But now, of course, we know that the CHP is being forced.

We know that it is under pressure from its base, from its own voters. Its own Party Assembly (PM) and Central Executive Board (MYK) have put great pressure on the CHP management. There are those who say, “On one hand, these things are being done to us, on the other hand, a process is being carried out in the name of democratization. What kind of contradiction is this?”