Nationalist leader Bahçeli proposes multi-party committee to oversee Turkey’s peace process with PKK

ANKARA — In a surprising political shift, Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi, MHP), proposed the creation of a multi-party parliamentary committee to oversee Turkey’s emerging peace process with Kurdish factions. 

The proposal comes in the wake of a historic announcement by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê, PKK), which earlier this month declared its official dissolution and an end to its decades-long armed insurgency. The PKK, long regarded as one of the region’s most entrenched militant groups, stated that it would now pursue its objectives through peaceful political means. 

Bahçeli’s initiative suggests the formation of a “National Unity and Solidarity Committee” comprising 100 members from 16 political parties. Each party would be guaranteed at least one seat, with the option to appoint two subject-matter experts. The committee, according to Bahçeli’s plan, would be chaired by Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş (Justice and Development Party, AKP), to whom the formal proposal has been submitted. 

The proposed body would function as a consultative council, tasked with drafting a political roadmap for Turkey’s post-conflict era. Its recommendations would be submitted to Parliament and relevant subcommittees for legislative review and potential implementation. 

Known for his staunch nationalist stance and opposition to Kurdish autonomy movements, Bahçeli’s proposal marks a notable departure from his traditionally hardline rhetoric. His initiative has been welcomed by media outlets affiliated with the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (Halkların Eşitlik ve Demokrasi Partisi, DEM Party), which has endorsed recent efforts toward peace. 

This is not Bahçeli’s first overture toward reconciliation. In October, he suggested allowing Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned founder of the PKK and a symbolic figure in Kurdish resistance, to address Parliament if the group fully disarmed and disbanded. Öcalan, who has been in prison since 1999, remains a pivotal figure in Turkey’s Kurdish question. 

While the PKK’s renunciation of violence and Bahçeli’s call for structured dialogue are significant developments, analysts warn that the road to peace will be fraught with challenges. Deep political mistrust, resistance from nationalist factions, and unresolved questions regarding Kurdish cultural and political rights are expected to complicate the process. 

If successful, Bahçeli’s initiative could redefine the political landscape in Turkey, offering a path toward reconciliation after decades of conflict. However, its implementation will require careful navigation of entrenched divisions and sustained commitment from all parties involved.