MPs from the Democratic Party convene with Bahçeli and Tunc amidst peace attempt negotiations
In a significant development for Turkey's ongoing peace process, the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) has taken on a mediating role between imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and the Turkish government.
Last week, high-level meetings were held at the MHP headquarters, attended by DEM Party deputies Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar, as well as lawyer Faik Özgür Erol. The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)'s deputy leader Feti Yıldız and MHP's deputy parliament speaker Celal Adan were also present, but the MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli did not participate.
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç was also part of these meetings, which focused on the current state of the peace initiative. The discussions did not involve the PKK or its leader Abdullah Öcalan, nor did they discuss the disbanding or laying down of arms by the PKK. However, the meetings did provide updates on the progress of the peace process.
Pervin Buldan described the meeting as "very positive and productive." The DEM Party continues its discussions with members of the People's Alliance, advocating for legal and judicial reforms to complement the disarmament process. The party emphasizes that disarmament alone is insufficient for resolving the conflict and calls for the establishment of a parliamentary commission to manage the legal framework necessary for the peace process.
This commission would oversee legal guarantees and implement regulations supporting former fighters and political prisoners affected by decades of conflict. The DEM Party also places significant hopes on upcoming judicial reform packages expected to address these issues.
Meanwhile, the PKK has taken steps towards disarmament. Last week, a group of PKK members burned their weapons during a ceremony in northern Iraq, marking a symbolic disarmament step. Turkish officials plan to inspect this disarmament, especially focusing on the evacuation of major PKK camps in northern Iraq, like the strategic Qandil headquarters.
The "terror-free Turkey" initiative, currently in its third and active stage, began with political discourse and calls for peace, notably by Abdullah Öcalan in February 2025. The PKK responded positively by officially announcing its dissolution during its 12th Congress in May 2025. The current stage, started in July 2025, involves PKK fighters beginning to burn their weapons, with expectations that all weapons will be laid down by the end of 2025.
In the coming days, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel is expected to host Buldan and Sancar, while the Future Party leader Ahmet Davutoglu was part of the meetings on July 16. The peace initiative, while still in progress, offers a glimmer of hope for a resolution to the longstanding conflict in Turkey.
[1] Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-pkk-disarmament-process-enters-active-stage-2025-07-01/ [2] Source: https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2025/05/turkey-pkk-disarmament-abdullah-ocalan-call-to-arms.html [3] Source: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/politics/pkk-to-disband-and-lay-down-arms-amid-peace-initiatives-163642 [4] Source: https://www.dw.com/en/turkey-pkk-leader-calls-for-disarmament-in-letter-to-members/a-58074821
The DEM Party's mediation role in Turkey's peace process extends to political discussions, as evidenced by the recent high-level meetings at the MHP headquartersdiscussing the current state of the peace initiative. (politics, war-and-conflicts)
Pervin Buldan, a DEM Party deputy, described these meetings as "very positive and productive," emphasizing the need for legal and judicial reforms to complement the disarmament process, and advocating for a parliamentary commission to manage the legal framework necessary for a successful peace process. (general-news)
