Opposition leaders in Turkey unite for crucial dialogue on constitutional reform

A critical dialogue commenced in Turkey on Friday between Özgür Özel, leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), and Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan, co-chairs of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, in Ankara.

The meeting focused on Turkey’s urgent need for constitutional reform and the ongoing Kobanê Case, alongside other pressing matters, such as the local election results, the current state of democracy in Turkey and ongoing crises.

Özel shared insights on the talks, stating, “Today’s meeting, a continuation of our previous discussions, allowed us to exchange views on the crises affecting Turkish democracy and the implications of recent election results on future policies.” The gathering also aimed to foster a collaborative approach to Turkey’s challenges, emphasising the importance of understanding the electorate’s message conveyed through recent polls.

After the discussions, Bakırhan highlighted the worsening crises under the current administration, “The existing political barriers and polarisation have only deepened the crises. Today’s productive meeting underscored the necessity for all political entities to engage more actively in resolving these issues through dialogue and negotiation.”

Hatimoğulları added, “We believe strong coordination among political parties is crucial for addressing the country’s social and economic difficulties. Today’s dialogue reaffirms our commitment to a democratic approach in tackling these issues collectively.”

Özel expressed gratitude for the visit of the co-chairs of the DEM Party and emphasised the importance of evaluating election results and understanding the messages conveyed by voters, a message that was considered by some against potential trustee appointments to elected Kurdish administrations by the Turkish government.

The Q&A session focused on Özel’s recent meeting with President Erdoğan. The main opposition leader emphasised the importance of this previous meeting as a significant milestone for Turkish democracy and highlighted the importance of dialogue and cooperation between opposition and ruling parties.

Özel’s discussion of his meeting with former President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and the recommendation to appoint Namık Tan, a seasoned diplomat, as a representative suggests a level of caution and strategic thinking within the main opposition party. By providing details such as Tan’s appointment and the fact that minutes of the meeting were kept, Özel indicated a proactive approach to ensure transparency and accountability, possibly in response to concerns about potential manipulation or misrepresentation of the meeting’s content by the Erdoğan administration.

Özel said he proposed the establishment of an Earthquake Affairs Ministry to Erdoğan and emphasised the importance of addressing the looming threat of an earthquake in Istanbul through bipartisan efforts.

Meanwhile, the DEM Party seized the opportunity to address a recent coordinated smear campaign against their party, which they view as an attempt to fabricate reasons for the criminalisation and potential closure of the pro-Kurdish party. Hatimoğulları clarified the DEM Party’s stance on national symbols, affirming that there is no issue with national symbols such as the Turkish flag and the national anthem. She emphasised the importance of respecting the will of the people as expressed through elections, linking the smear campaign to the Turkish government’s possible plans to appoint trustees to elected Kurdish administrations.

The meeting represents a significant step towards bridging gaps between major opposition forces in Turkey, aiming to lay a groundwork for a renewed era of collaboration and progressive change in Turkish politics.