20.10.2026 14:51
DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan, who announced that a new dialogue process has begun between Iran and the terrorist organization PJAK, said, "In his speech at the MERI forum, Mr. Bafel Talabani stated that a new dialogue process regarding the Kurds in Iran is at its initial stage and gave the information that the Iranian state views this positively. We also attach importance to this statement."
DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan evaluated developments in Turkey and the world in his speech at his party’s parliamentary group meeting in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.
Recalling that last week there were citizens who lost their lives and were injured in floods in many cities, especially Istanbul, Kocaeli, and Sakarya, Bakırhan said, “First of all, I ask God to have mercy on our citizens who lost their lives in each of these three cities. I wish our injured citizens a speedy recovery. At the same time, we convey our best wishes to all our citizens whose shops were damaged in this flood. I hope our government, which rushes into everything very quickly, will compensate for the damages here and also make up for the losses and damages of our citizens who suffered in this flood disaster.”
THE FLOOD IN ISTANBUL
“Of course it rains; it also rains in the world,” said Bakırhan, noting that the government was acting with “irresponsibility,” and spoke as follows:
“When it rains, if people die, vehicles are swept away, houses fill with water, and a city of 16 million and our other cities are paralyzed for hours and days, it would not be right to attribute this situation solely to rain. This situation is about how the city is managed. In Istanbul, Kocaeli, and Sakarya, streambeds have been narrowed for years. Water basins were opened to construction. My dear brother, if you grant a zoning permit on a streambed and fill it with concrete, where will the water pass? Water also has a memory. If you block its path, it will pass over you, take you under, pass, and people will lose their lives. Therefore, in my opinion, the mindset that attributes this situation solely to heavy rain is doing the right thing or the wrong thing. It needs to turn and look a little at how those cities’ stream basins were built up and managed. Just think, the northern forests in Istanbul have been fragmented by roads and airports. Projects are given for every valley every day. Those water basins are rising with residences. Then they produce an excuse that it rained a lot. Honestly, we do not accept this. Our citizens who were not affected by this flood disaster do not accept it either. This flood and rain warned you; I hope you come to your senses.”
Drawing attention to the fact that the Canal Istanbul project was put back on the agenda and opened to discussion during the flood agenda, Bakırhan spoke as follows:
“They insist on bringing this Canal Istanbul project, which threatens the city’s water, soil, and living space, to life again. We call out from here: Istanbul does not need mega projects; Istanbul needs to be protected from and rid of mega risks. If you want to do this society and our people a favor, build projects that eliminate these mega risks.
For two years they have been dealing with municipalities, starting with Istanbul, but on October 14 Istanbul actually told the government: ‘Well, instead of dealing with municipalities a little longer, deal with my problems.’ Let’s see whether a lesson will be drawn from this. We will watch and see together. Instead of talking every day about how you will transfer municipalities, Mr. Government, Mr. Officials, Mr. Minister, if you also talked a little about where water should be transferred when it floods. Look, what needs to be changed in Istanbul is not the stream reservoir; it is necessary to change the mentality that turns streams, land, and greenery into concrete and the city into a ramp.”
Recalling that they were invited to the MERI Forum in the Kurdistan Regional Government region of Iraq, Bakırhan said that they saw at the forum the importance they attach to the ongoing process in Turkey and the development of dialogue among Kurds, and said, “One of the most frequent assessments made at the forum was this: ‘Peace in Turkey can be the dynamo of regional peace,’ they said. We wholeheartedly agreed with this assessment. It is a correct assessment. Because when the Kurdish issue in Turkey is resolved through democratic means, its positive impact will not remain limited to Turkey; it will also be felt in Syria, Iraq, and Iran. This process is the hope not only of Turkey but of the entire region.”
Stating that Kurds are today one of the most willing and determined parties to peace in the region, Bakırhan said, “The unification of Kurds around their common strategic interests and their being stronger in the capitals of the countries where they live will further increase their founding role in regional peace. Because the most important thing we saw everywhere and confirmed again was this: The Middle East today is a ground on which not those who wait but those who speak and produce politics advance. Therefore, Kurds must talk more among themselves, establish more dialogue, resolve their internal problems if any by removing them, solve their problems through talking, and take a strong place in the future of the region.”
“IF DIALOGUE WITH IRAN STARTS, WE WILL SUPPORT IT”
Mentioning that one of the important topics discussed at the forum was also Iran, Bakırhan made the following statements:
“On this occasion, I want to say something additionally about Iran. In his speech at the forum, Mr. Bafel Talabani stated that a new dialogue process regarding the Kurds in Iran is at its initial stage and gave the information that the Iranian state also views this positively. We attach importance to this statement. We know that there is not yet a settled order in Iran. You will rightly say that in Iran, unfortunately, Kurds are arrested and executed every day. But there is a very clear fact: in Iran, Kurdish political dynamics want to solve their issues not through war but through dialogue and negotiation. Tehran should see this as an opportunity; instead of execution gallows and prison cells, it should not turn its back on this demand for dialogue and negotiation. The Iranian administration should be able to speak directly with Kurdish actors who want dialogue. There should be no need for an intermediary. Where weapons speak, no one wins; where weapons speak, everyone loses. Where there is a table, no one loses. Therefore, we consider it important that a beginning be made in Iran where politics is spoken. Kurdish parties in Iran have clearly said for years that they are ready to sit at the table. This is an opportunity that must not be missed for Tehran. The table of negotiation and dialogue with Kurdish parties must be established before it is too late. This table should not be temporary. This table must have a timetable and guarantees, and this table should be used to reach a permanent peace. We want this dialogue to begin with the state involved. If this dialogue begins, we promise that we will support it to the end. The success of the ongoing process in Turkey is not against Iran but for the benefit of the entire region. Turkey should support a possible Kurdish and Iranian dialogue process in Iran.”
“WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR NOW?”
Stating that “the PKK leadership announced on October 8 its decision to completely withdraw from Turkey and that some camps were evacuated,” Bakırhan emphasized that after these developments, the steps to be taken in the peace process should not be delayed. Bakırhan said, “The movement’s leadership said that not a single member of it remains in Turkey and that it has withdrawn all its forces here outside Turkey’s borders. This is important; it is an important step taken. Once again, on October 8, the movement leadership stated that they evacuated some camps. This is the last of this important step. Everyone has this in mind: How much longer will the steps to be taken ahead of peace wait? Since it has withdrawn the movement’s militants in Turkey, since they are slowly evacuating their bases and withdrawing from the camps, then what are we waiting for? People are asking the question, how much longer will we wait?” he said.
Noting that they witnessed the burning of weapons, that the withdrawal decision was announced, and that the camps were evacuated, Bakırhan said, “Faced with such a clear picture, there is no longer any justification for waiting, and the government has no excuse or justification left either. With the voice the society asks us and with sincerity and openness, we ask from this podium. We say to the government: what are you waiting for now? What more needs to be done now? The government cannot answer this question with silence. The government must now set aside explaining intentions and move to the decision-making stage. It must move to the stage of taking concrete steps.”
“THE PEACE AND POLITICIZATION COMMITTEE MUST BE ESTABLISHED WITHOUT DELAY UNDER ÖCALAN’S COORDINATION”
Stating that the peace process cannot be postponed with new conditions and justifications, Bakırhan called on Parliament to pass the necessary laws, end the trustee practice, and remove the obstacles to freedom of expression and organization, and expressed the following views:
“Peace is not something to be kept in a waiting room. This historic opportunity cannot be exhausted by producing a new condition every week and a new justification every month. We say clearly: let Parliament remain more responsible, pass the necessary laws, end the trustee system, and remove the obstacles to freedom of expression and organization. Let it make law a guarantee for everyone, not a rod of the government.
Under Mr. Öcalan’s coordination, the Peace and Politicization Committee must now be established without delay and begin its work. Disarmament cannot be completed with a declaration of will. A mechanism is needed to bring it to a conclusion. That mechanism is this committee. The people who will work in this committee must be on peace duty 24/7 if necessary with Mr. Öcalan. Meeting with the chief negotiator of the process at intervals lasting weeks has reached an impossible point for carrying out this work in a healthy way. Every passing day is a day lost for peace. This committee cannot be put on hold; it must be established immediately and begin working immediately. ”
“YOU CANNOT SAY PEACE WITH ONE HAND AND SILENCE SOCIETY AND THE PRESS WITH THE OTHER”
Bakırhan reacted to the practices against the press and society that must also end while the peace process continues, to the appointment of a trustee to Halk TV, to the detentions of journalists, and to the access bans imposed on publications.
Asking “If peace is politics speaking, why is everyone who speaks somehow punished and censored?”, Bakırhan said, “You cannot say peace with one hand and silence society and the press with the other. You are appointing a trustee to Halk TV. Allegations regarding the purchase of a company cannot be a justification for interfering with the labor of hundreds of journalists and the right of millions of people to receive news. Journalists who speak about the fund cannot be detained. Dipnot Publications’ book on Mahir Çayan is being confiscated and its publisher is being prosecuted. Censorship and access blocks against Mezopotamya Agency, JinNews, and Yeni Yaşam still continue.”
FUND CRISIS: THE SOLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MATTER IS YOUR GOVERNMENT
Bakırhan also devoted considerable space to the fund crisis in his speech. Describing what happened in Turkey as a major swindle, Bakırhan criticized the functioning of the economic system and said, “Look at the allegation, look at the funds, look at the interest and income/expense figures. The country’s economy has almost been turned into one of the world’s largest casinos.”
Comparing the grievances created by the fund crisis with the economic difficulties experienced by retirees and workers, Bakırhan also addressed religious communities and said:
“We ask our conscientious elders and brothers who prostrate themselves five times a day and pray five times a day: for God’s sake, can this much robbery, this much swindle be done without violating the rights of others? I ask this to our religious brothers, let them decide. What is the most fundamental principle of Islam and humanity? It is the rights of others. While the rights of the poor, the worker, and their labor evaporate in secret accounts, I say, is staying silent not a violation of the rights of others?”
“AN INVESTIGATION COMMISSION MUST BE ESTABLISHED FOR THE FUND CRISIS”
Criticizing the draft law to be discussed in Parliament regarding the fund crisis, Bakırhan argued that the regulation focused on recovering the money instead of compensating the victims’ losses and punishing those responsible, and said, “Instead of punishing those who defrauded people, this law will be one that says, ‘Bring back the money you stole, let’s settle accounts.’ Such a law cannot exist. The AKP government wants to manage here, not solve the problem. On behalf of those victimized in the swindle, those poor people who lost their small savings and scrimped and saved, and on behalf of 80 million people, we say that you must solve this problem. And we will follow up until this problem is solved.”
Claiming that while heavy penalties are imposed on those who steal small amounts, those who steal large amounts of money are protected, Bakırhan said, “Remember what you gave to the child who stole baklava to fill his empty stomach? A system that gave nine years in prison. It continues to protect those who stole the public’s quadrillions in old money. It can punish stealing baklava, yet remains silent before those who steal quadrillions. Can there be such justice? We do not accept such justice.”
Stating that the proposal to establish a commission to investigate the fund crisis was not accepted, Bakırhan asked, “If we are not going to establish an investigation commission for a matter involving 20 billion dollars and millions of victims, what are we going to establish it for? What is this Parliament for? I now leave this to everyone’s conscience. What are they not accepting, and why? What are they proving?”
Bakırhan explained the DEM Party’s stance on the fund crisis with the words, “Because we are an uncontaminated party. We are laborers, we are poor, we are workers. If we had been involved in these affairs, would we speak so comfortably? Here, we are your comrades. We are the representatives of that honorable struggle you waged. We do not do wrong, and we do not accept those who do wrong.”
“WHOSE BUDGET IS THIS?”
Criticizing the 2027 budget as well, Bakırhan argued that resources were transferred to interest and capital circles while the economic burden was left on laborers and retirees, and said, “Last week, the 2027 budget was presented. Once again, we are facing an AKP classic. Once again, they are preparing a budget that transfers resources to interest lobbies, capital, security policies, and rentier groups while placing the burden on retirees, workers, minimum-wage earners, and the public. They call this a welfare budget. Where is the welfare in a budget that the poor are not part of?”
Comparing the interest and social expenditure items in the budget, Bakırhan said, “They allocate approximately 4 trillion to interest. For social expenditures, 1 trillion 300 billion.They give four times that amount to interest. In other words, they give to interest what should go to the poor and needy. And what do they call it? Welfare budget. The rich people's budget. Is this going to be a welfare budget?" he asked.
Comparing the amount envisaged to be collected from workers through income tax with the amount to be collected from employers, Bakırhan said, "They plan to take 5 trillion 533 billion lira from the income tax paid by workers. They are trying to take 5 trillion 500 billion from workers. So how much do they plan to take from employers? 2 trillion. 5 trillion from workers, 2 trillion from the rich and capital. Whose budget do you think this is? Is this a welfare budget?" he stated.
Drawing attention also to the increase in defense expenditures, Bakırhan said, "Defense expenditures have increased by 66 percent. Maybe the country is withdrawing, withdrawing from its borders, they are evacuating the camps. In the peace process, you allocate more than 60 percent of the budget to weapons. I am also curious who has the answer to these problems. When this country's need for peace is so obvious, how will spending resources on war and weapons be explained?" he said.
DEM PARTY TO LAUNCH BUDGET CAMPAIGN ON OCTOBER 24
DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan said that DEM Party will fight for budget resources to be allocated not to war and rent-seeking groups but to retirees, workers, and the poor. Announcing that as a party they will launch a campaign on October 24 with the slogan "Budget for Bread, Peace, and Justice," Bakırhan stated that he will meet with workers and retirees in Siirt's Kurtalan district, while Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları will be in Istanbul.
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