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Devlet Bahceli, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s partner and head of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), reaffirmed his commitment to the "terror-free Türkiye" process and outlined a specific roadmap for key figures in the Kurdish political movement during his party's weekly group meeting on Tuesday.
Despite potential provocations, Bahceli signaled that the process initiated with PKK ringleader Abdullah Ocalan's call to disarm on Feb. 27, 2025, is reaching a new stage.
Addressing the developments in Syria, where the central government and SDF have recently reached an integration deal, Bahceli welcomed the "new paradigm."
"Bringing our Kurdish brothers and the terrorist organization YPG side by side is a grave negligence," he noted. "The call made by the PKK's founding leadership found a response in Syria 337 days later... A door of opportunity has been opened for Arabs, Kurds, Turkmens, and other peoples to live in unity."
Quoting the 16th-century poet Pir Sultan Abdal, Bahceli declared, "Let those who turn, turn; I will not turn from my path," emphasizing his resolve. He then explicitly named three high-profile figures, linking the ultimate success of the peace process to their statuses.
"Did the founding leadership of the PKK stand behind all the promises he made? He did. Did he ensure the dissolution of the separatist terrorist organization? He did," Bahceli stated.
"Until Anatolia finds peace, Ocalan finds (the right to) hope, Ahmet returns to his office, and Demirtas returns to his home, our decision is clear."
Bahceli’s statement refers to the "right to hope" (umut hakki), a legal concept that could pave the way for Ocalan's release from life imprisonment.
The "Ahmet" mentioned is veteran Kurdish politician Ahmet Turk, who was removed from his post as Mardin mayor on Nov.4, 2024, and replaced by a trustee.
The third figure explicitly named by Bahceli is Selahattin Demirtas, the former co-chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), which was the predecessor to the current pro-Kurdish DEM Party. Demirtas was arrested in November 2016 and has been behind bars ever since.
Bahceli also warned against rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran. He described a potential US attack on Iran as "unacceptable vandalism."
"Iran's peace and security is the keystone of regional stability," Bahceli said. "Dislodging this stone will bring to light problems that are not easy to handle. Our region cannot handle a new war."
The current political climate stems from a landmark initiative dubbed "terror-free Türkiye," which began in October 2024.
In a move that surprised many, nationalist leader Devlet Bahceli called on imprisoned PKK ringleader Abdullah Ocalan to dissolve his organization.
Ocalan responded to this call on Feb.27, 2025, urging the PKK to lay down its arms and dissolve itself. Following this instruction, the group announced in the summer of 2025 that it had terminated its activities in Türkiye, cementing the decision by symbolically burning weapons.
Parallel to the domestic process, the balance of power has shifted in neighboring Syria. SDF, which includes PKK's Syrian branch, YPG, has been engaged in integration negotiations with the central government.
Pressure mounted on the group in recent weeks after the Syrian Army retook control of the major cities of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa from the SDF.
This military pressure led to a new agreement implemented this Monday. Under the deal, security forces attached to the Syrian Ministry of Interior entered Hasakah, which had been under SDF control.
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