Turkey’s 2026 “security” budget was proposed at 2 trillion 155 billion lira, corresponding to 18% of the total budget. The DEM Party criticized the proposal, calling it a war budget. Speaking to Ajansa Welat about the new year’s budget and the opening of the Nusaybin–Qamishlo border gate, DEM Party MP and Budget Commission member Kamuran Tanhan shared his views.
Tanhan noted that the recent three-year extension of the military mandate indicates preparation for war: “Even though the Peace and Democratic Society process continues, the century-old mindset of the state has not changed. Although a year has passed since the start of the process, the government has not taken any concrete steps. Following Mr. Abdullah Öcalan’s call for Peace and a Democratic Society, it was hoped that the budget would become a budget for resolution. Unfortunately, the planned budget serves war, not the people’s interests. The peace process does not deserve such a budget.”
Explaining that the DEM Party prepared its budget together with the people, Tanhan said this participatory approach could be applied throughout the country, emphasizing that the DEM Party wants a budget consistent with a democratic society. He pointed out that in the cities of Kurdistan, the budget is spent almost entirely on dams, military outposts, and access roads, and stressed that a people’s budget should include women, youth, workers, and all segments of society.
Drawing attention to the issue of the Nusaybin–Qamishlo border gate, Tanhan said: “The opening of the Nusaybin–Qamishlo border gate is very important both for the spirit of the process and for the national economy. Our efforts regarding the gate’s opening continue. We asked Trade Minister Ömer Bolat about the situation. The ministry responded, saying they are in talks with the Syrian government to open the gate. If the gate opens, it will create job opportunities for 20,000 citizens and generate an annual income of 5 billion dollars. The ministry stated that they are working on this and also want the gate to be opened. The opening of the gate is also socially significant. We believe that the Nusaybin–Qamishlo border gate will open soon.”
Tanhan said that the AKP government has pursued a policy of poverty for 23 years, adding that the budget should be a people’s budget: “All institutions and our people must raise their voices against this and put pressure on the government. We want our people to reach out to us regarding the budget. We will visit every city, organize rallies, and express our demands city by city. Then we will present a report to Parliament in Ankara and make a public statement there.”