The Democratic Kurdish Council of Switzerland (CDK-S), the umbrella organization of Kurdish institutions in Switzerland, held its 10th regular congress. The congress took place in a hall in Grenchen, a town in the canton of Solothurn, decorated with PKK flags and posters of Abdullah Öcalan. Alongside members of councils and communes affiliated with CDK-S, hundreds of Kurds and their supporters attended.

After a moment of silence in memory of the martyrs of the Kurdistan freedom struggle, the congress began with the election of the board. Politicians Nejdet Atalay, Yusuf Amed, Şükran Sincar, and Yüksel Budak were elected to the board.

Zübeyde Zümrüt: Leader Öcalan’s freedom is essential for us

After the board election, Zübeyde Zümrüt, co-chair of the European Kurdish Democratic Societies Congress (KCDK-E), was the first to speak. Beginning by highlighting the importance of the freedom struggle carried out by Kurds in Switzerland, Zümrüt spoke about the significance of the "Peace and Democratic Society" process initiated by Leader Öcalan. She emphasized that Apo is at the center of this process and called on the Turkish state to take concrete steps for the process's future.

Zümrüt underlined that the 12th Congress decisions of the PKK and Leader Apo’s historic call have resonated widely internationally. Even though some European states welcomed this process, they continue their policies of criminalizing the Kurdish people. Just recently, their comrade Yüksel Koç was arrested due to his legal activism. She stated that they will never accept this stance from the states and will continue to resist this mindset together with their friends.

Emphasizing the responsibility on the shoulders of Kurds and their friends living in Europe, Zümrüt said they must continue their struggle more strongly in all areas in line with the spirit of the process.

Zümrüt also drew attention to the isolation conditions Leader Apo is under. There is a process underway, but Leader Öcalan is still being held in harsh conditions and isolation. They have never accepted this and never will. Their campaign “Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan, Political Solution to the Kurdish Question” is ongoing. They will expand this effort. For them, Leader Öcalan’s freedom is non-negotiable and their fundamental demand.

Franziska Stier: We must build a world based on freedom

Following Zübeyde Zümrüt, Franziska Stier, Secretary General of Switzerland's BastA Party, also spoke at the congress. She began by saying that we live in a time when resistance means rethinking life itself. In a world dominated by war, displacement, colonialism, and patriarchal violence, in Gaza, Ukraine, Kurdistan, and elsewhere, where fascism is on the rise even in Western democracies, building a society based on solidarity, justice, and freedom is a revolutionary act. Capitalism doesn’t just kill with bombs and starvation, it kills with indifference, alienation, and silencing the majority.

Democratic confederalism offers solutions

Stier stressed the relevance of Leader Öcalan’s paradigm in confronting the current global crisis. Democratic confederalism offers concrete solutions to crises. They have seen how this paradigm came to life in Rojava. So, it is not a utopia.

She emphasized that Öcalan’s “Peace and Democratic Society” call is fundamentally about reconstructing peace, democracy, and socialism. Socialism begins when people take control of their own fate. Mr. Öcalan outlines a path for people to determine their destiny against the state, the nation, and patriarchal order.

Message from the mayor of Solothurn

Stefanie Ingold, mayor of Solothurn, also sent a message to the congress. Unable to attend due to a prior engagement, she saluted the CDK-S congress and affirmed her continued support for the Kurdish people’s freedom struggle.

SYKP: We will escalate the democratic struggle

The Socialist Reconstitution Party (SYKP) sent a message congratulating the congress and highlighted the importance of the new initiative launched by Leader Öcalan. The decision to end the armed struggle is historic. From now on, they will intensify the democratic struggle.

Restructuring and election agenda

After a break, the congress resumed with the reading and evaluation of the activity reports of CDK-S, and its women’s and youth assemblies. Alongside assessments of organizational status, comprehensive discussions were held on the reorganization of CDK-S.

The congress decided to abolish the CDK-S Presidential Council structure and instead established a 9-member co-chairing board, including two co-chairs.

Dilan Çetinkaya and Cemal Özdemir were elected as the new co-chairs of CDK-S.