Latest developments in peace and democratic society process?

The Peace and Democratic Society Process has entered a new phase following the parliament’s adoption of the framework law. The National Coordination Council for Solidarity and Unity, established under the presidency and chaired by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, held its second meeting and defined the duties and areas of responsibility of its four subcommittees. The National Security Council also convened, but no decision was announced regarding the expected final approval for implementing the framework law. Parliament began its new legislative year. While the establishment of the Monitoring Committee is expected, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Deputy Chairman Fethi Yıldız said the committee could be established within one to ten days.

However, one fundamental issue underlying all these developments, and one that will determine the course of the process from now on, is the status of Leader Abdullah Ocalan and the role he will play in the process.

The role of Leader Abdullah Ocalan in the new phase that began with his 27 February 2025 call, his influence on the Peace and Democratic Society Process, the legal framework for the relationship to be established with state mechanisms, and the status of İmralı going forward remain unclear.

Therefore, the current stage of the process cannot simply be described as “the framework law has been adopted.” The main question is: What political and legal steps will be taken after the law is adopted, and what will be the status and position of Leader Abdullah Ocalan in this new phase?

The Framework Law Has Been Adopted, but the Process Is Not Yet Complete

Law No. 7595 on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration, which is expected to form the legal basis of the Peace and Democratic Society Process, was adopted by the General Assembly of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye on 10 August and entered into force on 18 August.

The law sets out the legal and administrative mechanisms to be applied following the dissolution and disarmament of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). However, for some key provisions of the law to be implemented, the security institutions must make a decision, which must then be approved by the National Security Council.

Therefore, the process has not reached a stage where the law is yet to take effect. On the contrary, the legal framework has already been established. However, not all the mechanisms required to translate this framework into practical results have yet begun operating.

In the next stage of the process, the “approval, verification and commitment” mechanism will be crucial.

Cevdet Yılmaz Chairs the Second Meeting of the Committee

The National Coordination Committee for Solidarity and Unity, chaired by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, held its second meeting on 28 September.

The meeting was attended by Justice Minister Akın Gürlek, Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi, National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler, Presidential Secretary-General Hakkı Susmaz, National Intelligence Organization (MİT) Director İbrahim Kalın, and Secretary-General of the National Security Council Okay Memiş.

The committee’s statement said that, within the framework of Law No. 7595, the current situation was assessed, taking into consideration the activities that have been carried out and those planned to be carried out in the future. It was also stated that the establishment of subcommittees within the committee, their duties, areas of authority, and issues of coordination between institutions had been determined.

What are the four subcommittees established so far?

- The Subcommittee for Coordination of Judicial and Legal Affairs

- The Subcommittee for Monitoring and Verification

- The Subcommittee for Social Reconciliation and Integration

- The Subcommittee for Disarmament and Strategic Coordination

The Subcommittee for Disarmament and Strategic Coordination is particularly important here.

The role and position of Leader Abdullah Ocalan in this process are mainly being discussed through this mechanism.

A focal point in the process: the status of Leader Abdullah Ocalan

The status of Leader Abdullah Ocalan is one of the most important issues that remains unresolved in the Peace and Democratic Society Process. The framework law does not directly define a new legal status for Leader Abdullah Öcalan. However, the law creates a legal framework that paves the way for assigning him a role in the organization.

Therefore, the discussion is focused on how Leader Abdullah Ocalan will undertake his role in the Peace and Democratic Society Process, particularly in implementing the dissolution and disarmament of the organization.

In assessments previously published within the framework of the Disarmament and Strategic Coordination Subcommittee, it was stated that Leader Abdullah Öcalan could undertake a task, particularly in this regard. However, in this context, neither the government nor the council has taken a clear decision explicitly specifying the name and task of Leader Abdullah Ocalan.

Therefore, the main issue today is not limited to the question, “Will Leader Abdullah Ocalan be assigned a task?”

Rather, the main question is:

What status will Leader Abdullah Ocalan have in the political and legal phase of the Peace and Democratic Society Process from now on?

Without answering this question, it is impossible to say that the boundaries of the new phase of the process have been fully drawn.

This is because the central role of Leader Abdullah Ocalan in the process that began following the 27 February call remains in place even after the decision to dissolve the organization and disarm it. At the meeting held between the İmralı delegation and Leader Abdullah Ocalan following the framework law, the importance of taking practical reciprocal steps after the law was enacted was emphasized, as was the need for the council to work effectively.

Parliament opened, but no new roadmap was announced

On 1 October, the Turkish Parliament began its new legislative year.

Although Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gave messages regarding the process in his speech at the opening of parliament, no new framework for a specific timetable for the upcoming period has been established.

In particular, no new timetable has been announced regarding the following issues:

- When will the Turkish National Security Council announce its approval?

- When will the Monitoring Committee begin its work?

- How will the legal and political status of Leader Abdullah Öcalan be determined in this process?

- How will the mechanism for meetings in İmralı be expanded?

- Will journalists, academics, and civil society representatives be able to visit İmralı?

Therefore, rather than being a new roadmap for the process, the opening of parliament was viewed as a stage in which messages regarding the continuation of the current political approach were reiterated.

Establishment of a Monitoring Committee

The establishment of a Monitoring Committee is considered one of the most important steps in the process at the parliamentary level.

Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş announced the urgent establishment of the committee with the opening of parliament. According to Kurtulmuş, the committee’s duties include monitoring the implementation of the law, following up on the results of the security institutions regarding the dissolution and disarmament of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), and working on preparing new legal regulations when necessary.

On 1 October, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Deputy Chairman Fethi Yıldız also said that the committee could be established within one to ten days.

Yıldız explained that the committee does not have the authority to impose criminal sanctions, but will monitor the process, and can make recommendations and present draft laws when necessary.

Therefore, appointing the members of the parliamentary Monitoring Committee and beginning its work will be among the items on the agenda in the coming days.

Without determining the status of Leader Abdullah Ocalan, the situation in İmralı will also not be clear.

The status of İmralı is a highly important issue in this process.

Following the framework law, hopes remain that the way will be opened for meetings with Leader Abdullah Öcalan, including meetings with journalists, academics, civil society organizations, and different segments of society.

Increasing openness in İmralı and allowing different segments of society to meet with Leader Abdullah Öcalan is viewed as one of the issues under discussion in order to socialize this process.

However, no general mechanism or timetable has yet been announced on this issue.

Here, we return to the same point:

The position and status of İmralı from now on are directly linked to the status of Leader Abdullah Ocalan.

Will Leader Abdullah Ocalan be treated merely as one of the parties to the previous conflicts, or will he assume a specific political and legal role in the new era under the headings of organizational dissolution, disarmament, democracy, and social peace?

This is one of the main questions that must be answered in the next stage of the process.

Why Is the Discussion Over the Legal Status So Important?

The discussion over the status of leader Abdullah Öcalan is not limited to his personal legal status.

Defining this status could directly affect the following:

- Imrali’s position in the process.

- Leader Abdullah Öcalan’s role in the disarmament process.

- The return and legal status of members of the organization.

- The mechanism for communication between the state and leader Abdullah Öcalan.

- Parliament’s role in the process.

- The scope of democratic transformation and new legal regulations.

For this reason, in the next stage of the process, at least with regard to the framework law, the wording adopted on leader Abdullah Öcalan’s status will be a decisive issue—perhaps even more important than the law itself—in terms of its implementation.

So far, no final decision has been announced on the matter.

What Is Leader Abdullah Ocalan’s Status?

In the next stage of the process, the answer to this question will be closely linked not only to leader Abdullah Ocalan’s personal legal status, but also to Imrali’s role in the process, how disarmament will be completed, how the process of resolving the organization will be managed, and whether the Peace and Democratic Society Process will move toward a phase of democratic transformation.

Therefore, the stage reached today can be described as a transitional phase in which the legal framework has been established, while discussions over implementation, political security and legal status are still ongoing.

The key issues for the next stage are clear: approval by the National Security Council, the parliamentary oversight committee, expanding the Imrali mechanism, and clarifying leader Abdullah Ocalan alan’s status in the process.

From now on, the Peace and Democratic Society Process will take shape through concrete steps taken around these issues, particularly with regard to leader Abdullah Ocalan’s status.

a.k

ANHA