From Execution Calls to Peace Talks: Bahçeli’s Öcalan Proposal Stuns Ankara

Turkey’s political landscape has been shaken by an unexpected proposal from Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, who suggested that jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan be granted the title of “Peace Process and Political Coordination Coordinator” as part of efforts toward a “terror-free Turkey”.

Speaking at his party’s parliamentary group meeting on May 5, Bahçeli, who years ago demanded the corporal punishment for Öcalan, endorsed demands long voiced by the pro-Kurdish DEM Party for granting Öcalan a formal status in a renewed peace process. The proposal marks a stark reversal for Bahçeli, who only a few years ago called for the reinstatement of the death penalty against Öcalan.

Political Alignment Emerges

The proposal was quickly welcomed by DEM Party leadership. Co-chair Tuncer Bakırhan announced their full support and called for the immediate establishment of a parliamentary “Peace Monitoring and Oversight Council,” suggesting legislation could pass within a week.

Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel also signaled backing for a broader initiative combining PKK disarmament with democratic reforms, indicating rare cross-party convergence.

This alignment has effectively revived what is now openly being called a “peace process,” replacing the earlier “terror-free Turkey” framing that had appeared stalled just weeks earlier.

According to Murat Yetkin, the timing of Bahçeli’s remarks closely coincided with a statement from PKK leadership, released via Firat News Agency (ANF), which emphasized that granting Öcalan official status was an “urgent” condition for progress. Notably, the statement was issued under the name “Apoist Movement,” an apparent signal of a transition away from the PKK’s traditional organizational identity.

Yetkin suggests that such simultaneity points to behind-the-scenes coordination, potentially involving Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and political actors, including DEM representatives.

Behind-the-Scenes Diplomacy

The developments follow a May 1 meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Bahçeli, after which reports emerged that MİT had briefed ruling AK Party officials on a “verification mechanism” for PKK disarmament. 

While details remain unclear, the sequence of events indicates intensified backchannel diplomacy in the lead-up to May 5.

Recent polling shows cautious public support for the process at 55–58 percent, though reactions to elevating Öcalan to a formal coordinating role remain uncertain. The ruling AK Party is expected to play a निर्णত role in shaping both policy and public perception, particularly among nationalist voters.