Turkish President Erdoğan says ally Bahçeli's remarks about Öcalan should be considered with 'open mind'

Duvar English

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Oct. 29 spoke in favor of ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli’s remarks about reinitiating the peace process and potentially releasing Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan from prison. 

Erdoğan hosted a special program at the Presidential Complex in the capital Ankara to commemorate the 101st anniversary of the Republic.

Erdoğan said, "The process of accepting every person within our Republic's borders as fair and equal citizens may have been a bit painful, but in the end, I think we succeeded."

Noting that the country was at a time when doors were opening to political and economic restructuring amid historic developments around the world, Erdoğan said “As a nation, we must quickly resolve our political, social, and economic issues.” 

He believed it would be more beneficial to evaluate recent approaches initiated by Bahçeli “without prejudice,” in light of this broader context. “This approach is a requirement of our ancient state wisdom and the knowledge distilled over thousands of years,” Erdoğan added. 

Quoting Mevlana, the President said the country has entered a climate “where we must say new things, not ignore problems but instead resolve them with decisive determination."

Erdoğan addressed all fellow citizens “regardless of origin, belief, sect, creed, or political and ideological differences,” to correct the mistakes of the past. 

“Let us turn the differences that have caused us to miss out on the major transformations of the last two centuries into the mortar, bricks, and iron of the Century of Turkey," the President concluded his message.

Bahçeli on Oct. 22 “raised the stakes” and signaled that Öcalan could potentially be released after 25 years in prison. He invited the leader to speak at the DEM Party’s group meeting in Parliament. "If he shows this determination and resolve, then let the path to the ‘Right to Hope’ be wide open,” he said. 

The remarks sparked discussion in the Turkish political scene, while Erdoğan remained silent until today. Erdoğan's support lends credibility to the scenario Bahçeli proposed. Legal experts have noted that Erdoğan would need to issue a special pardon for Öcalan's release.