President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's wish for a united domestic front and the gov’t-ally MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli’s handshake with DEM Party deputies quickly led to the question “Is a new peace process coming?”. There were even claims that the state was meeting with outlawed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan and Öcalan was meeting with Qandil. What kind of contacts took place in the background and how true these allegations are will come to light in the coming days. But what is certain is that the government and the opposition are not yet ready for this discussion.
The AKP’s approach to the discussions can be summarized as follows:
- There will be no new peace process. The Russia-Ukraine war on one side, the Gaza war on the other, attacks on Lebanon, tensions in the Pacific... A period in which the possibility of a 3rd World War is being discussed. We need to update our agenda according to the new developments. The call to strengthen the domestic front, the call for dialogue and cooperation is also about this. Not only the government but also the opposition should make this update. With so many imminent threats, all parties should review themselves.
- The President's call for unity is obvious. “My country, my homeland first” should be said. In time, areas of dialog and cooperation will emerge with those who say this.
- We are not in the conditions of the peace process between 2011 and 2013. We need a new era, new positions, new policies. Today's call should not be compressed into the peace process. It can be read not as a peace process but as a new democratization move, a reform process, perhaps a discussion of this.
Considering these approaches within the AKP, we can see signs of a new era in the judicial strategy document to be updated in the coming days and the new human rights action plans to be announced in early December.
DEM Party politicians are also distant from the interpretation of President Erdoğan's call as the “new peace process.” Although they find a dialog process in the democratic political arena positive, they say that there was absolutely no meeting with the government.
To summarize the comments on the process in the DEM Party:
- We need to watch the process. First of all, it is not right to look at the discussion with a concept like the peace process. It was different then, it is different today. We are in a period of time when allegations of a 3rd World War are being put forward and tensions are rising in the region. In this environment, Turkey's steps to ensure social peace within itself will of course be positive. It is said that “the main purpose of this call is to seek support for a new constitution.” The solution to the Kurdish problem is also in the constitution. We do not categorically oppose this. We would like to share our views. But the test of sincerity here is the realization of our expectations, such as the removal of obstacles to freedom of expression and compliance with the decisions of the ECHR and the Constitutional Court. If these are realized, there will be an environment for a new constitution.
- There is no development to confirm the claims of a peace process. Today, we can say 'either there is a process carried out with a very narrow team or there is nothing'. It is too early to say who is pursuing what. If there is a process going on, it is not a process we are a part of. We can only say this. If such a new process is to be carried out, it should be open and transparent. Whatever is going on should be in front of the public. The issue of a new constitution is something we care about. If they are serious about the constitution, an open work should be carried out.
- The DEM Party has formed its view and strategy on the constitution. We will share these if a constitutional process starts. But first, some steps need to be taken to show sincerity. These processes are carried out based on assurance not trust, realism not idealism.