Kurdish pro-Democracy party engages in talks with nationalist leader Bahceli, indicative of an uncommon instance of political discourse
In a significant development for Turkey's political landscape, the Turkish Parliament is set to establish a commission for overseeing the PKK disarmament process. This move follows a series of constructive meetings between political parties, including the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).
On Monday, a DEM Party delegation led by Pervin Buldan met with MHP leader Devlet Bahceli in Ankara. Buldan emphasised the importance of mutual support during the upcoming commission stage, while Bahceli's welcome of the delegation was seen as a sign of a more open stance.
The DEM Party has also held discussions with Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc and is expected to meet with CHP leader Ozgur Ozel on Friday. However, no meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled for this week.
The PKK disarmament process began with a call from Devlet Bahceli, marking a significant step towards resolving the long-standing conflict between the Turkish government and the PKK. This move is part of increased efforts by Turkey's political leadership to close the chapter on decades of armed insurgency and domestic instability linked to the PKK.
The DEM Party, successor to the HDP, has played a central role as an intermediary between imprisoned PKK founder Abdullah Öcalan and Ankara, advocating for a parliamentary commission to oversee the peace and disarmament process. The establishment of this commission is expected to be operational by mid-July.
The fate of political prisoners, especially Öcalan, former HDP leaders Demirtaş and Yüksekdağ, and thousands of others, remains a central issue. The DEM Party and Kurdish groups demand tangible improvements in prison conditions and broader amnesty as part of the peace dividend.
While the AKP government and DEM Party have engaged in backchannel negotiations, relations with the CHP and MHP are more complicated. The CHP has traditionally supported broader democratic reforms but remains cautious on Kurdish autonomy. The MHP, a nationalist ally of the AKP, has historically opposed concessions to the PKK and Kurdish political movements.
The DEM Party may be preparing for a possible visit to Imrali Island, where Öcalan is imprisoned. However, no official confirmation has been given regarding this visit. The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the EU, and the U.S.
The coming weeks will be decisive. The launch of the parliamentary commission, the handling of prisoner issues, and the government’s response to Öcalan’s manifesto for a "democratic society" will shape whether this process marks a true turning point or another chapter in Turkey’s fraught Kurdish question.
- The Turkish Parliament's establishment of a commission for overseeing the PKK disarmament process is a significant development in Turkey's political landscape, given the ongoing conflicts in areas such as war-and-conflicts and politics.
- On Monday, a DEM Party delegation, led by Pervin Buldan, met with MHP leader Devlet Bahceli in Ankara to discuss the upcoming commission stage, with Bahceli's welcome of the delegation indicating a more open stance.
- The Turkish Lira's value may be impacted by this political development, as policy-and-legislation decisions regarding the PKK disarmament process could influence general-news events and potential changes in the crime-and-justice landscape.
- The DEM Party's central role in serving as an intermediary between imprisoned PKK founder Abdullah Öcalan and Ankara has been crucial, and the establishment of the commission is expected to be operational by mid-July.
- negotiations between the AKP government and DEM Party, the CHP's support for broader democratic reforms although cautious on Kurdish autonomy, and the MHP's historic opposition to concessions to the PKK and Kurdish political movements will likely shape the outcome of this process.
- If the DEM Party does visit Imrali Island, where Öcalan is imprisoned, it could significantly impact Turkey's domestic policies and international relationships, given that the PKK is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the EU, and the U.S.
