Ankara, Turkey: The pro-Kurdish Democratic Progressive Party (DEM) has voiced one of its strongest criticisms yet of the Turkish government's handling of a fragile peace process.

Speaking to her party MPs on Tuesday, DEM co-chair Tulay Hatimogullari accused the government of 'hesitant and timid' behavior in advancing towards peace with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The conflict between the Turkish state and the PKK has claimed over 40,000 lives since 1984.

The DEM party, Turkey's third-largest political party, played a key role in facilitating initial steps towards peace.

Hatimogullari emphasized that while a bright outlook for peace is within reach, the government has failed to match the momentum generated by jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan's February 2025 call for disarmament.

The peace process has seen blame-trading among all parties involved, including DEM, the PKK, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government, over perceived delays in progress.

The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU, declared an end to its armed struggle in May 2025 and stated it would disband.

However, Ankara has insisted that further disarmament must be verified before broader legal or political steps can be taken.

In February, a Turkish parliamentary commission voted overwhelmingly in favor of a report outlining a roadmap for legal reforms alongside the PKK's disarmament, marking a significant shift into legislative territory.

The insurgency has fueled instability in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish southeast and spilled over into Iraq and Syria.

Hatimogullari warned that delays risked derailing the peace process entirely.