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Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and governing Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) ally, proposed a 'peace process coordinatorship' to define a status for jailed terrorist organization PKK ringleader Abdullah Ocalan.
Speaking at his MHP's parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday, he weighed in on a range of pressing issues from Eastern Mediterranean tensions to the ongoing PKK disarmament process.
Reacting to recent developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean, Bahceli stressed that Türkiye is not a country seeking confrontation but that it would stand firm when its rights are challenged.
"However, any step that disregards Türkiye's rights, its security zone, its maritime jurisdiction areas, the right of existence of Turkish Cypriots, and the balance of law in the Aegean will be met with a resolute Türkiye," Bahceli said.
He urged close attention to what he described as efforts by France, Greece, the Greek Cypriot administration, and Israel to build a security and energy hub in the Eastern Mediterranean directed against Türkiye.
Accusing French President Emmanuel Macron of harboring "Napoleonic ambitions," Bahceli warned that Paris's recent moves would do nothing to benefit Turkish-French relations.
"If France becomes an instrument of petty calculations against Türkiye in the Eastern Mediterranean, regional peace, European security, and France's own reputation will suffer," he said.
Turning to the so-called "terror-free Türkiye" initiative, an ongoing process aimed at convincing the terrorist organization PKK to lay down arms, Bahceli said the process would be carried out "meticulously, without compromising on security sensitivities."
He insisted that the question of ringleader Abdullah Ocalan's status could not be ignored if the process was to function properly.
"As we have stated before, the issue of Abdullah Ocalan's status is important to us. The process can't work in a healthy manner by acting as though this issue does not exist," Bahceli said.
Calling for a measured and sober approach rather than impulsive reactions, Bahceli said, "When Türkiye's security and future are at stake, we cannot afford sudden reflexes, emotional outbursts, social media noise, political prejudices, unfounded opposition clamour, or uncertainties with unknown timelines."
Bahceli proposed the creation of a formal body to oversee the process, suggesting it be named the "Peace Process and Politicization Coordinatorship."
"If there is a status gap for Abdullah Ocalan, this gap must be addressed in a way that serves the interests of the Republic of Türkiye and contributes to the success of the terror-free Türkiye goal," he said.
"Whatever this mechanism is called, its purpose must be transparent. It must simultaneously safeguard social healing, political normalization, democratic participation, the law of brotherhood, public order, national security, and a peaceful future," Bahceli added.
He concluded by expressing his hope that the PKK's founding leadership would operate under a formally defined framework.
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The MHP is the junior coalition partner in Türkiye's ruling government alongside President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party. Bahceli has, in recent months, taken a notably active role in shaping the public narrative around the PKK disarmament talks, which began following calls from Ocalan himself, who has been imprisoned on Imrali Island since 1999.
It was Bahceli who first called on Ocalan in October 2024 to dissolve the PKK.
Ocalan responded with a formal call for disarmament and dissolution in February 2025. The PKK subsequently held a symbolic disarmament ceremony and announced the end of its armed activities in Türkiye.
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