Abdullah Ocalan: local democracy is main artery of democratic integration

Addressing conference delegates, Ocalan argued that throughout history societies were primarily governed through local autonomous administration, while centralized authority was the exception. He said that the rise of the centralized nation-state under capitalist modernity weakened local governance and became a major source of conflicts and crises worldwide.

Leader Ocalan noted that the devastation caused by the World Wars led to renewed recognition of local, national, and cultural rights, which later became part of democratic norms. He described local democracy as a path toward both social participation and political stability.

Referring to the Middle East and Turkey, he said that expanding democratic expression at local and regional levels could help resolve many longstanding problems. He argued that reducing excessive centralization and empowering local administrations is essential for democratic reform and sustainable governance.

Leader Ocalan stressed that democratic change does not occur automatically, but is achieved through organized and continuous struggle by democratic and local forces. According to him, local democracy and democratic rights have historically been secured through such efforts.

He described the formula of “local democracy and a democratic constitution” as a peaceful and democratic solution to the Kurdish issue. He added that democratic integration can only succeed through strong local democracy and that the absence of local democratic governance has contributed to anti-democratic practices in recent years.

Leader Ocalan said the Kurdish issue has reached a stage where solutions can be found through local administration. He argued that strengthening local democracy is also the key to addressing broader governance challenges in Turkey, as well as in Syria, Iraq, and Iran.

Highlighting the role of municipalities, he described local administrations as the first building block of democracy and democratic communes. He called for people-centered social, economic, and environmental models that rely on public participation rather than centralized authority.

He emphasized that municipalities should encourage broad citizen participation through city councils and local decision-making mechanisms, allowing communities to discuss and address their own economic and social concerns.

According to leader Ocalan, municipalities should not function as miniature states but as democratic communes rooted in society. He argued that local communities should produce practical solutions while maintaining dialogue and cooperation with state institutions rather than conflict.

He called for reviving the spirit of the commune within local administrations and moving from discussion to implementation. In his view, democratic organization at the grassroots level offers an alternative to conflict and political deadlock.

Leader Ocalan also reiterated his concept of balancing the relationship between the state and communes through democratic competition and negotiation rather than confrontation. He pointed to developments in Syria and Iraq as examples of the relevance of this approach.

Concluding his message, Ocalan urged municipalities to address issues such as services, education, health, transportation, production, and environmental protection through a communal and democratic approach. He expressed hope that success in local governance would strengthen the Peace and Democratic Society process and advance democratic negotiations in the region.

24 May 2026

Abdullah Ocalan – İmralı Island