DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan calls for a framework law: The first step to overcoming a historic threshold through law

DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan made assessments regarding the ongoing discussions on a framework law during his party's parliamentary group meeting. Stating that the process must be placed on a legal foundation, Bakırhan said, "Historic steps have been taken until today. Now is the time to anchor these steps in law."

Bakırhan expressed that the framework law should not be viewed merely as a technical regulation. Arguing that the law could be the beginning of an era that would replace "weapons with politics and conflict with law," Bakırhan called for the strengthening of democratic politics.

Emphasizing a "strong democracy" in his speech, Bakırhan said that free politics, an equitable economy, fair law, and strong democracy are the fundamental elements of living together. Bakırhan used the expression, "The framework law is the first step to overcoming a historic threshold through law."

"NOT A PRIVILEGE LAW"

Bakırhan stated that the framework law is not a regulation of privilege, defining it as a step to provide democratic and legal guarantees for the transition process toward solving a historical problem. He noted that the law is important in terms of addressing the Kurdish issue within a legal framework based on negotiation.

Stating that a single legal regulation would not eliminate long-standing political and social problems in one day, Bakırhan nevertheless expressed that such a regulation could move the issue from the ground of violence to the ground of politics and law.

Bakırhan stated that the Parliament should take on a role for lasting peace and proposed the establishment of a "Peace Monitoring Board" mechanism within the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). He said that the process should be carried out with the participation of all parties, in a spirit of democratic participation and transparency.

Expressing that a roadmap should be drawn up with the opening of the TBMM in the autumn, Bakırhan called for reforms in the areas of equal citizenship, democratic politics, language, culture and belief organization, local democracy, trustee (kayyım) practices, justice in sentencing, and equality in execution.

Bakırhan concluded his speech with the words, "Let August be the month to lay the foundations of peace with a framework law. And let October be a spring month in the construction of a democratic Turkey."

News Source: 12punto