The BDP (Peace and Democracy Party), together with the wider Labor, Democracy and Freedom Block, has been in recent weeks the main promoter of a new political organization. Not a party in classical terms, nor a mere coalition of different parties. The idea, as the name given to this new format, suggests is to create a congress organization. In other words a sort of 'connector' or catalyst for all of those instances that are addressed by many circles and organizations but which need - in order to be put forward which more strength - to be channeled into one common proposal.

BDP Co-Chair Gültan Kýþanak explained the process undertaken by the groups involved in the creation of the congress format as follows; “We asked ourselves if we could form something different from the political party format so as to address to the potential for a stronger struggle that was revealed by the success of the Labor, Democracy and Freedom Block at June elections. Seeing the presence of many grounds that raise an objection to the current system and status quo in the country, we concluded that all these dissident grounds should be gathered under a roof, which could be a congress format to create a stronger ground.” Kýþanak added that their proposal was supported by many circles.

Remarking that the congress initiative aims to create an alternative center, Equality and Democracy Party Deputy Chairman Sinan Tutal expressed that the congress should be a structure to touch on all issues, rather than focusing on a single main agenda and mentioning other issues around it. Tutal said that the congress should raise its voice seriously to the current events in Turkey, including the cross border operation and woman killings.

Labor Party Deputy Chairman Ender Ýmrek pointed out that Turkey is going through a process when all labor, democracy and freedom powers should make common cause with each other. “There is a need more than ever for a common movement of workers and laborers. This need gave rise to our work that we approach in the dialectic of congress-party. This need for the common movement of all oppressed and victimized circles came out as a block movement that strengthened to meet on the idea of a common party and congress.”  

Believing that it is indispensable to find a peaceful and democratic way to end the war, the congress, said Ýmrek, will address to the Kurdish issue in particular, and all economic, social and political issues Turkey is facing today, including the environmental problem in Gediz, hydroelectric power plants in Black Sea region, woman killings and operations inside and out of the boundaries.

“There is a need to form a confederate center in west to organize revolutionary-democratic gains so that we can ensure a balance between the east and the west of the country.” said the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) Leader Figen Yüksekdað, underlining the importance of the direction of the congress initiative and the congress-party struggle center from the struggle at streets and in life.

The Socialist Democracy Party (SDP) Leader Rýdvan Turan said that the roof party should be the democratic confederation base of all organized and unorganized social opposition and have a structural regulation that enables the common activity to have a voice and right in all areas and at all levels. It should participate in elections, but it shouldn’t be just an election party, suggested Turan.

Green Party Chairman Ümit Þahin underlined that there is a need for a common struggle by all movements and politics that demand a solution to the Kurdish issue which is the most important issue in Turkey and must be solved in a “peaceful and nonviolent way”. Þahin noted that the congress will be an example of a ground of common struggle.

Þahin said that all structures, movements and politics within the congress will basically attach priority to the subjects of peace, ending of the ongoing bloody war and violence.