04.08.2026 16:52
DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan said, "Historic steps have been taken so far. Now is the time to bind these steps to law. The framework law is the first step in overcoming the historic threshold through law."
DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan spoke at his party's parliamentary group meeting.
Regarding the framework law, Bakırhan said, "For a strong start, strong democracy is as necessary as bread and water. There must be a democratic order where everyone can express themselves freely and participate in decision-making and governance. We must no longer treat democracy as a stage prop. Free politics, equal economy, fair law, and strong democracy are the fundamental pillars of coexistence. Let us not forget that a structure is only as strong as its weakest pillar. If one is weak, all are lacking. For this reason, there is no economy that bypasses law, and a politics with weak democracy inspires confidence neither at home nor abroad. Our comrades who are struggling know very well that all of this will not happen overnight. But sometimes, it is the first step taken that changes a country's destiny. The framework law is exactly such a step. The framework law that will come before Parliament is not a technical regulation. This law will replace weapons with politics, conflict with law, and is the threshold of a new era that will grow democratic partnership. Now, let us all take that first step together to cross this threshold. Let us turn this law into the beginning of a democratic march," he stated.
"THE LAW OPENS THE DOOR TO A NEW ERA" Recalling the developments in the 'Terror-Free Turkey' process, Bakırhan added that the process should be seen as an opportunity and acted upon accordingly. Bakırhan said, "Historic steps have been taken so far. Now is the time to bind these steps to law. The framework law is the first step in overcoming this historic threshold through law. Let us take this first step together and walk the long road ahead together. A single legal regulation will not eliminate all the political and social burden of a hundred-year-old issue in one day, but it still does something very important. It moves the issue from the ground of violence to the ground of politics and law. This law opens the way for words where guns fall silent, politics where words exist, and opens the door to a new era that will remove obstacles in front of democratic politics. Just like in Ireland, here too, we witness for the first time that hope and history rhyme with the fate of 86 million people. This success belongs to 86 million, to the Peace Mothers, to you struggling on the streets. This hope and success belong to all of us," he said.
"IT IS NOT A LAW OF PRIVILEGE" Emphasizing that politics and democratic negotiation should be given a strong chance, Bakırhan said, "We state clearly; the framework law is not a law of privilege. It is a law to secure the transition process with democratic and legal guarantees for the solution of a historical problem. It is the first time that the Kurdish issue, ignored for a hundred years, meets a legal framework based on negotiation. The framework law is opening a door to peace. Peace eliminates the conditions that reproduce conflict. The law is needed precisely for this; it exists to end the conflict period and open the doors to lasting peace. With this law, we must strengthen the law of lasting peace. For peace to become permanent, conditions for Öcalan's free work and communication must be ensured, and Parliament must play its historic role. A Peace Monitoring Committee mechanism should be established under the auspices of Parliament. With the participation of all parties, the process should be carried out with democratic participation and transparency, and our work will not end with this law; our struggle will begin anew. With this law, we will struggle more, we will unite, and we will continue on our path by conducting the democratic struggle together with beliefs, peoples, and the oppressed. Political, legal, and administrative regulations that will strengthen the framework law should be implemented from autumn onwards. With the opening of Parliament in autumn, we should create a roadmap. In this roadmap, we must implement democratic and legal reforms that guarantee equal citizenship, remove legal and administrative obstacles in front of democratic politics, strengthen democratic participation, remove obstacles in front of language, culture, and belief organization, strengthen the field of local democracy, end trustees, and ensure justice in punishment and equality in execution. For this reason, we say; let August be the month of laying the foundations of peace with the framework law. Let October be a spring month in the construction of democratic Turkey," he assessed.