Turkey DEM Party pushes legal reforms

On 23 July 2026 the DEM Party released a letter allegedly from Imrali prison calling for a Kurdish‑Turkish alliance framework, equality legislation and permanent legal guarantees, igniting debate over constitutional revisions and citizenship concepts. The following day the party unveiled a detailed reform package that sought unrestricted communication for Abdullah Öcalan, opened border gates in regions such as Mardin and Kars, released political prisoners including Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş, restored elected officials and pledged to implement European Court of Human Rights judgments. The package was debated in parliament alongside AK Party leaders under the banner of a “terror‑free Turkey” agenda.

On 2 August 2026 a DEM Party delegation—MPs Pervin Buldan, Mithat Sancar and lawyer Özgür Faik Erol—traveled to Imrali Island and held a three‑hour meeting with PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. Öcalan described the forthcoming “framework law” as a key step that would open the peace process, benefit Turkey’s 86 million citizens, and boost the economy, quoting “Bin kilometrelik yol bir adımla başlar.” The party said it would issue a written statement on the talks and expected the law to be presented to parliament within the week. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated that the legal reform would be submitted to parliament soon, underscoring the continued push for a “terror‑free Turkey.”