Gov't-ally Bahçeli now denies Kurdish issue

Duvar English

The leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Devlet Bahçeli on Oct. 28 denied the existence of the Kurdish issue. 

In a written statement made for the 101st anniversary of the foundation of the republic, Bahçeli said, “The Republic of Turkey does not and will never have a Kurdish problem. The Republic of Turkey does not have an ethnic or sectarian dilemma.”

“The existing problem is the separatist terrorist problem, and this treachery will definitely be eradicated. Whoever does not part ways with these, it is an absolute fate for them to meet on the common denominator of enmity against democracy and humanity. There is no backing down, deviation, or drift from the goal of eradicating terrorism and separatism not only from our lives but also from the national memory,” he added.

His remarks came after almost a month of his and President Erdoğan’s reconciliation efforts with the Kurds.

On Oct. 1, Bahçeli shook hands with pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party deputies at the opening session of the Parliament.

He later “invited” the DEM Party to “become a party of Turkey.” Previously, he called for the closure of the DEM Party on several occasions, accusing them of collaborating with the outlawed PKK.

Later on, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan backed Bahçeli and pointed to a new constitution to resolve the Kurdish issue.

Then Bahçeli on Oct. 22 invited Abdullah Öcalan, jailed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader, to speak at the parliament to disband the outlawed organization.

Bahçeli said, “If the isolation of the terrorist head (Öcalan) is lifted, let him come and speak at the DEM Party group meeting in the parliament, shout that terrorism is completely over and the (PKK) has been disbanded.”

All these moves sparked hopes for a new initiative or peace process regarding the Kurdish issue in Turkey.