DEM Party group meeting concludes: Turks and Kurds must establish a democratic union

The parties' group meetings are continuing where they left off. DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları made statements.

Highlights from the group meeting are as follows:

We want 2025 to be a year of justice, equality, and peace. I wish for a year full of hopeful struggle and achievements.

The new year has also begun with a series of major price hikes. They have raised prices on everything from needles to thread. So, what fell to the share of the working class? Misery fell, poverty fell. A retiree said at the end of the year; 'May God never let retirees experience such a year again'. We say amen to that.

There is also the issue of the minimum wage. We will defend the rights of minimum wage earners. How can a family make a living with one minimum wage? Let the government explain this; I wonder if they could handle it? Everyone in the country is trying to survive, but the wealthy are reaping the rewards. As the DEM Party, we said the minimum wage should be 35 thousand, and we said there should be 4 raises throughout the year, taking inflation into account."

We have all seen that this war, which has lasted for 13 years, has caused great destruction. We want a Syria where women and peoples can live freely. We will convey to you the situations that have emerged despite our persistent stance.

Women were executed in Syria. The only prescription for Syria is democratization.

We have gathered here today to evaluate the latest developments in Syria and the future of the region. We support the desire of Syrians, worn out by war, to live in peace and tranquility, and we continue our efforts in this direction.

The construction of a democratic country that will offer a free and equal life for all peoples in Syria, especially for women, is of great importance to us. However, the attacks on efforts to create a democratic and equal life model in North-East Syria seriously threaten the country's unity and future.

History offers us important lessons, such as what happened in Iraq in 2003 and in Libya. The only path before us in Syria right now is democracy. Establishing a democratic structure where peoples can live equally and fraternally with their own will, identities, and beliefs must be the cornerstone of this process.

Today in Syria, while on one hand there is a struggle for women's freedom, on the other hand, we are faced with the painful reality of women being executed in the middle of the street. Our preference is for women's freedom and equality.

Threats against Kobanî continue. Despite the attacks on the Tishrin and Karakozak bridges, the people in Suruç and Nusaybin see the attacks on Rojava as if they were made against them personally and are resisting against this. They are standing up for Rojava.

Do not forget, there can be no war in Rojava and peace in Turkey!"

In this political climate where everything is developing very rapidly, as the DEM Party, great responsibilities fall upon each of us following the meeting we held with Mr. Öcalan in İmralı.

This is a time to write history. The chance to make a magnificent breakthrough is in our hands. As the DEM Party, we are fully behind the message of peace from Mr. Öcalan that echoed from İmralı to the whole world. We are determined to fulfill every responsibility that falls upon us in this regard with heart and soul.

This message is not just a political call, but also a call to the entire society. An opportunity has arisen to multiply those who defend peace and to grow the unity of peace.

Mr. Öcalan, in the meeting held with him, emphasized how urgent peace is and made very important warnings. The most striking of these warnings is directed at the Middle East, where international law does not function and every place is in danger of turning into Gaza. What is happening in Gaza is the most concrete example of the destruction and humanitarian crisis created by war in the 21st century.

Furthermore, the global system is trying to turn everywhere into Gaza with its policies of war and destruction. Today, every place in the Middle East is facing this danger. There is a tension line extending from the Red Sea in the north to Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean further south.

Therefore, we must ensure our own internal peace and be careful against dark scenarios. The statements I made in Diyarbakır in recent days have been misrepresented by some circles. These sources, which emerge with such rote memorization and provocations, should know that no one's power will be enough to distort our insistence on peace and our word.

Today, I want to draw your attention again to an important point that Mr. Öcalan expressed years ago: “To overcome all dangers and eliminate the siege, Turkey must establish a strategic alliance and a democratic union with the Kurds.” These words have proven over time how correct they were.

Indeed, it has once again been revealed how vital it is to strengthen the historical Turkish-Kurdish alliance for our present and our future. This alliance on a democratic ground will provide great contributions not only for us but for the entire Middle East. As he also stated, “Now is the time for peace, democracy, and brotherhood for Turkey and the region.”

Solving the Kurdish issue on democratic foundations will end the politics of war, prevent nationalist conflicts, and most importantly, stop the deaths.

Our Parliament is facing a historic duty. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) must not miss the peace train in the 21st century. Furthermore, all non-governmental organizations, professional chambers, unions, democratic mass organizations, intellectuals, writers, and journalists can make significant contributions to the process of shaping the next century of this country with their contributions. We are at such a critical threshold!

As Mr. Öcalan stated, “All these efforts of ours will carry the country to the level it deserves and will also be a very valuable guide for a democratic transformation.” Yes, there is no loser in peace. With peace, we can open the doors to democracy, economic prosperity, and justice in our country.

A large part of the opposition has made significant contributions to Turkish society with the common sense and solution-oriented approach it has shown so far. Approaching the Kurdish issue on a correct basis and contributing to its solution will carry all of us, especially the opposition, further forward."