Democracy, rule of law, and inclusive dialogue in Türkiye in light of the current political situation

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 16263 | 22 September 2025

Signatories:

Mr Max LUCKS, Germany, SOC ; Mr Gergely ARATÓ, Hungary, SOC ; Mr Jone BLIKRA, Norway, SOC ; Ms Laura CASTEL, Spain, UEL ; Mr Emmanuel FERNANDES, France, UEL ; Mr Vinzenz GLASER, Germany, UEL ; Mr Julian JOSWIG, Germany, SOC ; Ms Saskia KLUIT, Netherlands, SOC ; Mr Ferat KOÇAK, Germany, UEL ; Ms Bisera KOSTADINOVSKA-STOJCHEVSKA, North Macedonia, SOC ; Mr Ettore Antonio LICHERI, Italy, UEL ; Mr George LOUCAIDES, Cyprus, UEL ; Mr Dimitrios MANTZOS, Greece, SOC ; Mr Didier MARIE, France, SOC ; Ms Kate OSBORNE, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Berdan ÖZTÜRK, Türkiye, UEL ; Mr George PAPANDREOU, Greece, SOC ; Ms Agnes Sirkka PRAMMER, Austria, SOC ; Ms Awet TESFAIESUS, Germany, SOC ; Ms Susanna VELA, Andorra, SOC ; Ms Birutė VĖSAITĖ, Lithuania, SOC ; Mr Serdar YÜKSEL, Germany, SOC ; Ms Sandra ZAMPA, Italy, SOC

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

The Parliamentary Assembly has a long-standing commitment to the promotion of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in all member States. In this context, it emphasised the importance of inclusive political processes, free and fair elections, and the protection of civil society and independent media.

Recent worrying developments in Türkiye, including the removal of opposition officials, politically charged judicial proceedings against opposition parties, and restrictions on civil society and independent media, risk undermining democratic competition, the rule of law, and long-term political stability.

In July 2025, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) took a unilateral step of symbolic disarmament. This unprecedented action represents a rare window of opportunity for dialogue and de-escalation in the ongoing political process. However, this process is unfolding without clear legal or parliamentary frameworks, and its outcomes remain uncertain.

The Assembly should therefore address these developments with the aim of fostering the resilience of democratic institutions, upholding the rule of law, and promoting inclusive political dialogue in Türkiye, while encouraging all relevant stakeholders to engage in constructive exchange and seize emerging opportunities for dialogue, de-escalation, and sustainable reconciliation.