On October 1, 2024, an unexpected development occurred during the opening of the 28th legislative term of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chair Devlet Bahçeli shook hands with MPs from the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), surprising the public and political circles alike. This symbolic gesture sparked discussions over whether a new door could be opening toward dialogue regarding the long-unresolved Kurdish question.

In his statement that same day, Bahçeli emphasized national unity and Turkey’s existential challenges, saying, “We are entering a new era. If we want peace in the world, we must first secure peace within our own country.”

Bahçeli’s remarks received a positive response from the DEM Party. Gülistan Koçyiğit, parliamentary group deputy chair of the DEM Party, said his words were “meaningful and important” for them as well, and added, “To achieve peace, it is necessary to go beyond declarations of goodwill and take concrete steps.”

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, from the Justice and Development Party (AKP), also expressed support for the process, stating, “Instead of focusing on areas of conflict at home and abroad, we must highlight opportunities for reconciliation and expand the grounds for consensus.”

On October 8, 2024, during his party’s parliamentary group meeting, Bahçeli commented further on the handshake, describing it as a message of national unity and brotherhood: “The hand I extended is a message of our national unity and solidarity.”

Tülay Hatimoğulları, co-chair of the DEM Party, responded by saying, “We want an honorable peace. We are ready to sit down for dialogue and negotiation. But it cannot be limited to standing in front of the cameras and uttering a few words. What is needed is the public presentation of a concrete plan and program for a solution.”

On October 9, during his party’s parliamentary group meeting, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan backed Devlet Bahçeli’s earlier statements and said, “Considering the current atmosphere in our region, we believe there is a need for more dialogue, more reconciliation, and a broader foundation for mutual understanding. As the People’s Alliance, we hope to address the country’s pressing issues in the new term with the broadest possible consensus.”

On October 22, during his own party’s group meeting, Devlet Bahçeli made a controversial statement regarding Mr. Öcalan’s status. He suggested that if the isolation imposed on him were lifted, “Let him come and speak at the DEM Party’s parliamentary group meeting in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and declare loudly that terrorism is over and the organization is dissolved.”

Bahçeli further stated that if Abdullah Öcalan were to make such a call, the necessary legal arrangements should be made to enable him to benefit from the “right to hope.” This marked the first time in forty-three months that an official voice from the state side publicly acknowledged the absolute isolation imposed on Mr. Öcalan.

In response to Bahçeli’s statements, Tülay Hatimoğulları said, “The key figure for peace in Turkey and the Middle East is Mr. Abdullah Öcalan, who is being held under severe isolation in Imrali. The path to a solution runs through the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. We are ready to take initiative. As a first step, the isolation must be lifted.”

Messages of dialogue followed by trustees and arrests

On October 24, Ömer Öcalan, MP for Urfa (Riha) from the DEM Party and nephew of Mr. Öcalan, announced that they had met with Mr. Öcalan on October 23, after forty-three months of absolute isolation. He shared the following message from Mr. Öcalan: “The isolation continues. If the conditions are created, I possess the theoretical and practical strength to move this process from the ground of conflict and violence to a legal and political framework.”

The Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) welcomed the meeting and Abdullah Öcalan’s statement but emphasized that the conditions of isolation must be lifted.

While all of these developments were interpreted by the public as steps toward democratization in Turkey, on October 30, Ahmet Özer, the mayor of Esenyurt elected under the ‘urban consensus’ between the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and the DEM Party, was detained in a raid on his home and later arrested. The Ministry of the Interior appointed Istanbul Deputy Governor Can Aksoy as trustee in his place.

On November 4, the Ministry of the Interior appointed trustees to the DEM Party-run municipalities of Mardin (Mêrdin), Batman (Êlih), and Halfeti (Xelfetî).

Reacting to the move, the DEM Party declared: “There can be no peace alongside trustees.”

On November 22, the Ministry removed from office both DEM Party’s Dersim (Tunceli) Co-Mayor Cevdet Konak and CHP’s Ovacık Mayor Mustafa Sarıgül, citing their convictions by the Tunceli High Criminal Court on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization.” Trustees were again appointed in their place.

On November 29, Ayvaz Hazır, DEM Party co-mayor of Bahçesaray (Miks) in Van (Wan), was sentenced to 3 years and 11 months in prison for participating in a press statement nine years ago. On the same day, the Ministry of the Interior appointed a trustee to Miks as well.

On December 14, 2024, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan declared that Turkey was determined to eliminate the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and stated: “Eliminating the YPG is our strategic goal. Either they dissolve themselves, or they will be dissolved. As the YPG is eliminated, no harm must come to the ancient Kurds and local populations living in the historic cities of the region. Because what the YPG has done to Arabs, to Kurds, is plain to see.”

First delegation visit to Öcalan after four and a half years

On December 28, 2024, MP from the DEM Party, Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Pervin Buldan, visited Abdullah Öcalan on Imrali Island, marking the first meeting in four and a half years. The visit came one month after Devlet Bahçeli’s public call regarding Mr. Öcalan.

Following the meeting, a message from Mr. Öcalan was shared with the public: “For the success of this process, it is essential that all political actors in Turkey take initiative, act constructively, and make positive contributions without being constrained by narrow and temporary calculations. One of the most important platforms for such contributions will undoubtedly be the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.”

On December 29, 2024, in an interview with Medya Haber, KCK Executive Council Co-Chair Besê Hozat expressed their support for Mr. Öcalan’s commitment to a solution and stated: “The AKP-MHP government, and indeed the entire state, both its government and opposition, must demonstrate a genuine will for a solution.”

Between January 5 and 7, 2025, the Imrali delegation, Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Pervin Buldan, together with Ahmet Türk, visited political parties represented in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, including MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli, as well as Speaker of Parliament Numan Kurtulmuş.

On January 10, the co-mayors of the Akdeniz Municipality in Mersin, Hoşyar Sarıyıldız and Nuriye Arslan, along with three municipal council members from the DEM Party, were detained and later arrested on January 13. On the same day, the Ministry of the Interior appointed a trustee to replace the elected administration of Akdeniz Municipality.