After the women’s conference the previous day, the DEM Party continued its series of conferences on democratic municipal administrations in Van province. The discussions focus on the role of municipalities as well as approaches to participatory and democratic local governance. Co-mayors and members of provincial councils gathered at the Bêrîvan Cultural Center in the İpekyolu district. The event is part of a longer-term process under the motto “Toward a communal society through democratic municipal administrations.”
Focus on participation and municipal practice
The discussions addressed previous experiences in municipal work as well as perspectives for stronger public participation. In her opening speech, Dilgeş Aslan from the İpekyolu City Council referred to the connection with the process for “Peace and Democratic Society” initiated by Abdullah Öcalan. The conference also serves to critically evaluate the work of the past two years and to further develop it together with civil society actors.
The experience of Kurdish municipal governance
Mehmet Rüştü Tiryaki, Deputy Co-Chair of the DEM Party’s Commission for Municipal Affairs, emphasized the role of municipalities. “You are the ones who are in daily contact with the population,” said Tiryaki, underlining the central importance of local administrations for political work. He also referred to the experience of Kurdish municipal governance: “Between 1999 and 2016, we demonstrated that municipalities can be organized differently—not as instruments of power, but as spaces of social participation.”
Review of municipal projects
Tiryaki highlighted numerous examples implemented during this period. These include the expansion of public services, measures for ecological urban development, and strengthening women’s representation through the gender-parity co-presidency system. Social projects such as low-cost or free public transportation, as well as initiatives to ensure access to basic food supplies, were also cited as examples.
Criticism of state-appointed trustees
A central point of discussion was the state practice of appointing trustees to municipalities. Tiryaki stated that many of the structures developed within municipalities had been systematically dismantled: “The structures we built were deliberately taken apart. Municipal councils were blocked, and professional staff were dismissed or replaced. Thousands of employees were removed from their positions as part of state measures.”
Conference continues
The discussions continued behind closed doors after the public session. The aim of the conference series is to further develop strategies for democratic and participatory municipal governance.
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