Serra Bucak, co-mayor of Diyarbakır (Amed), discusses the political and social challenges facing Kurdish local government in southeastern Turkey. She reflects on the eight-year period during which elected Kurdish municipalities were replaced by state-appointed trustees, describing the impact on democratic participation, public services, women’s institutions, and the relationship between citizens and local government.
Mayor Bucak explains how her administration, elected in 2024 under the DEM Party, has worked to restore participatory governance, revive multilingual and women-centered programs, and rebuild municipal infrastructure after years of neglect. She also discusses the Kurdish movement’s co-mayor system, which promotes gender equality and shared leadership, as well as efforts to strengthen accountability, expand services for women, and develop international partnerships with cities across Europe and beyond.
The conversation offers a rare look at Kurdish municipal politics, grassroots democracy, women’s leadership, and the ongoing struggle for local self-government in one of the Middle East’s most politically significant cities.
Mayor Bucak was interviewed by Janet Biehl in her office in Diyarbakir in March 2026. The producer was Eric Agnero.
