21.11.2025 09:30
The commission established in the Turkish Grand National Assembly will vote today on the visit to Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı. The decision of the CHP, which has not yet announced its stance regarding the visit, will be announced before the vote. While the DEM Party has proposed Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit for the delegation, the AK Party views the visit positively.
The National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission, established in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) to plan legal steps regarding the "Terror-Free Turkey" process, will meet today to make one of its most critical decisions.
The commission, which will convene at 14:00, will vote on whether to meet with Abdullah Öcalan, who is imprisoned in İmralı Prison. If a decision is made in the vote to visit İmralı, a delegation determined from within the commission will meet with Öcalan.
31 VOTES REQUIRED FOR İMRALI VISIT The commission consists of a total of 51 members, including 22 from the AK Party, 11 from the CHP, five from the DEM Party, four from the MHP, three from the New Path Group, one from HÜDA PAR, one from the Renewed Welfare Party, one from the TIP, one from the EMEP, one from the Democratic Left Party, and one from the Democratic Party.
MHP Deputy Chairman responsible for Legal and Election Affairs and commission member Feti Yıldız stated that a simple majority would be sufficient for the vote since there is no legislative proposal.
According to the commission's working principles, decisions on legislative proposals require a qualified majority of three-fifths, while other matters are decided by a simple majority. TBMM President Numan Kurtulmuş had previously stated that a qualified majority would be required for the İmralı visit. In this case, 31 commission members must vote "Yes" for the visit to take place.
IF AK PARTY, MHP, AND DEM PARTY VOTE WITHOUT DEFECTS, THE VISIT TO İMRALI WILL BE CONFIRMED The total number of members from the AK Party, MHP, and DEM Party is exactly 31. If the members of these three parties approve the visit without any defects, the visit to İmralı will be confirmed. If a simple majority is sought, the votes of 26 deputies will be sufficient. The MHP and DEM Party had previously stated that the commission should also meet with Öcalan.
FIRST MESSAGE FROM AK PARTY: WE VIEW IT POSITIVELY The AK Party convened yesterday to determine its stance on the vote. AK Party commission members met at the TBMM under the chairmanship of Deputy Chairman Efkan Ala and Group Chairman Abdullah Güler. The meeting, which started at 15:30, lasted about an hour. After the meeting, Güler stated that they view the visit to İmralı positively, saying, "It was clear that a visit to İmralı was necessary. We have expressed that we view it positively as the AK Party, together with the People's Alliance. Hopefully, our esteemed Speaker will make an evaluation in tomorrow's commission meeting."
Güler expressed that the commission would conduct a "listening activity" in İmralı, stating, "There is no legislative activity; there will be a listening activity, and the commission will evaluate it. I am not sure if a vote will be necessary." He added that the visit would be conducted according to the Ministry of Justice's regulations and that the person representing the AK Party in İmralı has not yet been determined.
Meanwhile, prior to today's vote, MHP Group Deputy Chairman Erkan Akçay and Deputy Chairman Feti Yıldız met with AK Party Group Chairman Abdullah Güler and Deputy Chairman Efkan Ala. After the meeting, which took place in Güler's office in the Parliament, Yıldız responded to journalists' questions, stating that the meeting was not related to the İmralı visit, saying, "It is a legal matter; we exchanged ideas mutually."
DEM PARTY'S REPRESENTATIVE NAME HAS BEEN CONFIRMED Additionally, DEM Party Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan expressed hope that the commission would approve the visit during a press conference held yesterday. Addressing the CHP, Doğan stated, "We believe that what befits the main opposition party is to be at the forefront of the peace struggle. Because that is what suits them." Doğan also announced that if the visit takes place, the group deputy chairperson of the DEM Party, Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit, will be part of the delegation.
Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit CHP'S DECISION IS AWAITED One of the most curious topics in the vote is what stance the CHP will take. CHP Chairman Özgür Özel met with the CHP members of the commission yesterday to determine the party's stance on the vote. No statement was made after the approximately 2.5-hour meeting. It was noted that the final decision would be made before today's commission meeting.
So far, there has been no clear statement from the CHP regarding a possible visit to Öcalan. CHP Group Deputy Chairman Murat Emir stated that they have not discussed this issue as a party, saying, "We have not held a meeting or expressed an opinion on a matter that has not come to the commission's agenda."
Emir denied a report on social media that the majority of CHP commission members opposed meeting with Öcalan. He emphasized that a review meeting was held with the commission members, but no decision was made, stating, "The issue will be evaluated in detail by our party's authorized boards and shared with the public."
ERDOĞAN POINTED TO THE COMMISSION FOR THE DECISION Bahçeli's latest statement on the same issue came three days ago. Arguing that the time has come to put an end to the discussion about meeting with Öcalan, Bahçeli asked, "If direct contact cannot be established with one of the main interlocutors of the process, how will results be achieved, and how will progress be made?" He expressed that if no steps are taken in this regard, he would go to İmralı himself, saying, "If the commission established in the Parliament cannot make a decision in this context, I would not hesitate or shy away from going to İmralı with three of my friends at our own means."
In his group speech on Wednesday, President Erdoğan thanked Bahçeli, describing his statements as "brave, visionary, and guiding," and said, "I wholeheartedly believe that the TBMM Commission will make the most accurate and appropriate decision for Turkey, for Turkey's secure future, and for the unity and solidarity of our nation." Erdoğan had visited Bahçeli on November 12. The meeting, which took place at Bahçeli's residence, lasted about 40 minutes.
After the group meeting, Erdoğan responded to a journalist's question about Bahçeli's statement, "If no one goes, I will go to İmralı."
He did not respond to the question, "How do you evaluate this statement?" Erdoğan had also previously left unanswered a question regarding Devlet Bahçeli's bringing up the "right to hope" for Abdullah Öcalan.
Following Bahçeli's statements, MHP commission member Feti Yıldız stated that the commission would decide to go to İmralı. In a post on his social media account, Yıldız noted that the delegation consisting of commission members would visit İmralı Prison within a few days, while his remarks, "If there is a political party that does not want to assign a member of parliament to the delegation, it should openly and clearly share this with the public," drew attention.