Is Turkey on the verge of peace with the Kurds?

In October last year, a surprising gesture of Devlet Bahceli, the leader TurkeyThe Party of the Nationalist Movement (MHP) and a key ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan marked the beginning of what could be a transformer era.

Him handshake With deputies from the Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) of the pro-Kurde peoples, followed by his last-hour statements- which included The invitation of Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdistan workers’ party (PKK), to “come” in the Parliament and say that “the Turks and the Kurds must be love -you” – He pointed out a potential change in Turkey’s approach to the Kurde problem.

While Bahceli’s rhetoric emphasized the conclusion of terrorism, he also opened the door to solve the Kurde question by political means. This unexpected movement has since dominated Turkey’s political agenda, against the background of a new peace process to take shape.

This process has obtained an impulse as the government recently facilitated the contact between Ocalan and an DEM delegation.

Ocalan expressed the availability of a Play a role In assurance of peace and all eyes are now on it because it is expected to do soon Pivot call For PKK to extend their arms.

The success of this initiative is based not only on the Ocalan statement, but also on the PKK response, which will probably be influenced by the developments in Syria.

The continuous process is not a comprehensive solution for the social and political dimensions of the Kurde problem; It is a disarmament initiative aimed at ending PKK violence. Erdogan has been treating them for a long time like two separate problems.

But while the government focuses on disarming PKK, a successful result could open the way to a wider democratization and a renewed political agenda.

Political crisis

If PKK disarming the justification of repressive measures such as arrest of politicians accusations of terrorismwould be weakened. This could create space for a more open public debate and a democratic policy.

Next to Ocalan, politician Kurd Selhattin Demirtas and Dem Party Support the processrecognizing his potential to unlock new political options. But skepticism remains.

Is this a calculated political movement or signals the beginning of a new political age?

Many have been questioned if this initiative is an authentic peace attempt or just a political maneuver. Turkey’s political landscape has been in crisis for years, failing to address the most pressing problems of the country. The electorate, keeping the government government in power, pointed out a desire to change.

The Kurdish problem, which intersects with many of the challenges of Turkey – economic inequality, democratic deficiencies and social polarization – provides an opportunity to build a new Political framework. Approaching this problem could help solve wider systemic problems.

The economic and human costs of the Kurd conflict were huge. The decades of policies focused on the Security have failed to solve the problem, instead eroding the freedoms, polarization of the company and undermine the rule of law.

Some critics claim that democracy seems secondary to economic concerns – but without democratic governance, stability and prosperity remain evasive. Solving the Kurde problem is not only a moral imperative, but also a strategic necessity for the future of Turkey.

Unexpected pivot

Bahceli’s unexpected pivot raised questions about his reasons. Is this a calculated political movement or signals the beginning of a new political age?

Since the formation of the AKP-MHP alliance, Bahceli has been perceived as an obstacle in solving the Kurde problem. However, his recent statements suggest a will to Support a solution. Whether this is a historical opportunity or tactical maneuver, it is a chance to be confiscated.

The constant position of Bahceli from October 2024, accompanied by the Government facilitating the discussions with Ocalan, gives credibility to the possibility of an authentic change. But the final direction of this process will depend on the actions of key political actors, including Erdogan.

While Bahceli has the luxury of making bold statements, Erdogan is responsible for implementing a potential agreement. His prudent approach reflects the great stakes.

The regional context, in particular Development in Syriawill play a critical role in outlining this process. The change of dynamics has significantly influenced the PKK position in Syria, where the Syrian democratic forces (SDF), a group led by Kurds, remains a key player. Turkey and the new Syrian administration negotiated the future SDF, including military structure and its administration framework.

One of the central problems is whether SDF fighters will integrate into the Syrian army or maintain a distinct military presence. The result will have a direct impact on the PKK position and his response to Ocalan’s early call for disarmament.

Critical opportunity

Another controversial problem is the administrative structure of the Kurdish majority regions in Syria. While Turkey and the Syrian government plead for a unitary state, SDF is looking for a decentralized model that allows local governance. Solving these disputes will model the broader regional dynamics and will influence peace perspectives in Turkey.

Ocalan’s statement was initially expect be done on February 15th. The significance of this date – the anniversary of his capture in 1999 – would have added an additional weight at this time, turning it on a day to celebrate the “great peace” rather than marking The “great international conspiracy”, a term from the PKK lexicon to describe the capture of Ocalan.

But that didn’t happen, and his statement is now anticipated on Thursday. Regardless of the date, if this statement becomes a historical turning point or remains a symbol of the continuous conflict, it will depend on both the clarity of Ocaan’s message and the wider developments in Syria.

A strong, unequivocal statement of Ocalan could press PKK to comply, while ambiguity could allow the group to delay or reject disarmament.

The initiative launched by Bahceli has evolved into a political process, with Erdogan’s reservations in the light of regional evolutions. Its success will depend on the quality of the political leadership and the availability of all interested parties to be constructively involved. Critics who fear that the process could lead to an anti -democratic result must participate actively to ensure transparency and responsibility.

The Kurdish problem remains in the center of Turkey’s political, social and economic challenges. Although the current process is not a comprehensive solution, it is a critical opportunity to address decades of conflict and to build a more inclusive and democratic future.

The opinions expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of the Middle East.