DEM Party (Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party) Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları has accused the Turkish government of blocking democratic reforms and delaying necessary steps toward political change and a resolution of the Kurdish question. Peace and democracy, she said, will not be served on a silver platter but must be fought for by society. “What we have achieved, we have gained through effort and struggle,” Hatimoğulları stated on Saturday ahead of a meeting of the party council.
At the same time, the politician emphasized that her party continues to work toward democratic transformation despite political blockages. “We are working day and night to ensure that this process succeeds. But the legislative responsibility lies with the government. Those who delay are known.”
Call for concrete steps
Hatimoğulları called for a fundamental political shift and concrete measures toward democratization. A transitional arrangement, she said, is “as necessary as bread and water.” Remarking that democracy can neither be conditional nor become a subject of political bargaining, the DEM Party co-chair was particularly clear regarding political prisoners and restrictions on democratic rights. She remarked that the release of prominent detainees and the reversal of state interventions in elected structures could fundamentally change the political climate. “Imagine that trustee administrations are lifted, elected representatives return to their offices, and political prisoners are released. Would that not allow this country to breathe?” she asked.
Crisis continues to deepen
The party leader also painted a bleak picture of the social situation in Turkey and pointed out that the country is in a “triple crisis” of economy, ecology, and energy. “Rising prices, growing poverty, and a worsening supply situation are burdening large parts of the population. People can no longer breathe,” Hatimoğulları said. She added that the government is trying to downplay the economic crisis by referring to the Iran war, but even if conflicts were to end, the structural problems are already deeply rooted.
Women at the center of the struggle
Another focus of her speech was the situation of women. Hatimoğulları pointed to the persistently high number of femicides and called for stronger social organization against them. “Dozens of women were killed in March alone. These are not isolated cases; this is a structural problem,” she said, and suggested that women must build stronger networks and defend their rights collectively. She also made an international connection, referring to the struggles of women in the Middle East, particularly in Iran and in Rojava. The demand for freedom and equality, she stressed, transcends borders.
Clear rejection of waiting
In conclusion, Hatimoğulları underlined that her party will not wait for political concessions. “Governments may pursue a policy of waiting—we do not,” she said. “Peace can only emerge if social pressure is built: If we succeed in organizing peace, expanding it, and mobilizing society for it, then the government will also be forced to take steps.” She added that the DEM Party sees itself as responsible for actively advancing this process in the struggle for a democratic future.
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