Speaking at the Istanbul Newroz, Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party Co-chair Tuncer Bakırhan said, "This Newroz is of historical importance. Against the monist, denialist system, Mr Abdullah Öcalan opened the way to peace. Mr Öcalan opened the door of peace and democracy to this system. Now Mr Öcalan's call concerns 85 million people. There are Alevis, women, youth, labourers, retired and oppressed in the Democratic Society Call. We are in favour of this call," he said. Bakırhan emphasised that 2025 must be a year of change and that the call was a beginning.

 

Bakırhan reacted to the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and emphasised that they stand by those arrested. Stating that Kurdish politicans are the ones most affected by the "civil coups" Bakırhan stressed these practices must end. Reacting to the accusations against the "Urban Consensus", Bakırhan said that the "Urban Consensus" cannot be made a subject of accusation. Reacting to the dismissal of the Istanbul Bar Association administration, Bakırhan stated that right democracy cannot come out of wrong law.

 

Bakırhan said: "Right does not come out of wrong. I call on this government to give up this wrong law that it has been applying for the last 10 years and to respect the demands of the people and the will of the people. The call made by Mr Öcalan is a chance for Turkey. It is an opportunity for democratisation. With Mr Öcalan's call of the century, this rotten, dissolved, economically bankrupt and finished system has opened a door and opened a way. Now we address the government and the state from here. Pay attention to this call of the century. Use this opportunity for democratisation. Do not waste this opportunity with judicial conspiracies, trusteesi oppression and silencing the opposition."