Nationalist leader calls for disarming PKK as ‘Kurdish initiative’ on domestic agenda

Recent domestic political developments in Türkiye have attracted significant attention, with two key developments standing out.

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli issued a stern call to PKK terrorist group leader Abdullah Ocalan, urging him to end terrorism. Ocalan, who was captured by the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MIT) in Nairobi, Kenya, in February 1999, remains imprisoned in Türkiye.

Meanwhile, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Ozgur Ozel has applied to the Ministry of Justice to visit former co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtas and former Mayor of Diyarbakir Selcuk Mizrakli, both of whom are currently imprisoned in Edirne.

These events highlight a significant dichotomy within Türkiye’s political landscape regarding party positions.

Bahceli’s call to Ocalan: End PKK

In a recent group meeting at the Turkish Parliament, Bahceli urged Ocalan to declare the end of terrorism and the dissolution of the PKK.

He stated, “The state does not negotiate with terrorist organizations; it combats them resolutely,” emphasizing that engaging in negotiations with such groups would undermine Türkiye’s national interests.

Bahceli also addressed ongoing discussions about a “solution process” in politics, asserting, “It’s either politics or terrorism; there is no middle ground,” underscoring that the two cannot coexist.

Tensions between CHP, MHP

Bahceli’s remarks directly contrast with Ozel’s recent application to visit Demirtas and Mizrakli. According to reports from Turkish newspaper T24, Ozel is currently awaiting approval for his visit. This situation underscores significant tension and contradiction in Türkiye’s political dynamics.

In his speech, Bahceli criticized the CHP, stating, “Following the closed session in the Parliament, Ozgur Bey’s statements are sheer nonsense. The perspective of the CHP is not a national one.” His comments signal a deepening political rift between the CHP and MHP.

Ozgur Ozel’s visit, main opposition strategy

On the other hand, Ozgur Ozel’s planned visit to Demirtas and Mizrakli can be seen as an attempt to strengthen the opposition’s ties with Kurdish-oriented political figures in prison. This move may also reflect the CHP’s strategy to carve out an alternative political approach against the MHP and the ruling party.

These developments reveal the complexities of Türkiye’s political environment. Bahceli’s assertive stance underscores the MHP’s nationalist agenda, while Ozel’s visit signifies the CHP’s effort to assert its opposition strategy in a challenging political landscape.