21.11.2025 12:20
The National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission will meet today at 2:00 PM to discuss the Imralı agenda. The Speaker of the Grand National Assembly, Numan Kurtulmuş, will hold a meeting with the deputy chairpersons of the coordinating group in the process at 1:30 PM.
Will the National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission established in the Parliament go to Imralı? This question is now finding an answer. The National Solidarity, Brotherhood, and Democracy Commission will reconvene today at 14:00 and will vote on whether to go to Imralı or not.
HOW WILL THE VOTING BE CONDUCTED?
According to the working principles of the commission, the quorum for the meeting consists of the simple majority of the total number of members (51), which is 26. Decisions regarding the preparation of the bill are made with a three-fifths majority (31 votes), while the quorum for other matters is based on the majority of those attending the meeting. Numan Kurtulmuş, who chairs the commission, stated that a "qualified majority (31 affirmative votes)" will also be sought regarding the visit to Imralı. CHP Chairman Özgür Özel announced that they would not accept a "closed meeting" that contains confidentiality on this agenda. However, there is a possibility that the meeting will be held in private with the votes of the People's Alliance. In this case, which member voted what and the discussions in the meeting will be "confidential." The decisions made will be announced to the public by the Presidency of the Parliament.
PARLIAMENT SPEAKER KURTULMUŞ WILL HOLD A MEETING
Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş will hold a meeting with the coordinators of the group vice presidents in the commission at 13:30.
31 VOTES ARE REQUIRED FOR THE IMRALI VISIT
In the commission, there are 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 New 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 since there is no bill proposal for the upcoming vote.
According to the working principles of the commission, decisions for bill proposals are made with a three-fifths qualified majority, while for other matters, a simple majority is sufficient. Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş had also stated that a qualified majority would be required for the Imralı visit. In this case, 31 commission members need to vote "Yes" for the Imralı visit.
IF AK PARTY, MHP, AND DEM VOTE WITHOUT DEFECTS, THE VISIT TO IMRALI 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 trip to Imralı 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 THE AK PARTY: WE VIEW IT POSITIVELY
The AK Party met yesterday to determine its stance in the vote. AK Party commission members gathered at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey 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 Imralı positively, saying, "It was clear that a visit to Imralı was necessary. We expressed that we view it positively as the AK Party, together with the People's Alliance. Inshallah, our esteemed Parliament Speaker will make an evaluation in tomorrow's commission meeting."
Güler, who stated that the commission would carry out "listening activities" in Imralı, said, "There is no legislative activity; it will be a listening activity, and the commission will evaluate it. I am not quite sure whether a vote will be needed or not." He added that the visit of the commission would be conducted according to the regulations of the Ministry of Justice and that the person representing the AK Party in Imralı has not yet been determined.
Meanwhile, prior to today's vote, MHP Group Vice Chairman Erkan Akçay and Deputy Chairman Feti Yıldız met with AK Party Group Chairman Abdullah Güler and Deputy Chairman Efkan Ala. After the meeting that took place in Güler's office in the Parliament yesterday, Yıldız responded to journalists' questions, stating that the meeting was not related to the Imralı visit, saying, "It was a legal matter; we exchanged ideas mutually."
THE NAME DEM PARTY WILL GIVE TO THE DELEGATION HAS BEEN CONFIRMED
On the other hand, DEM Party Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan expressed hope that the commission would approve the visit during a press conference she 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 vice president of the DEM Party, Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit, will be part of the delegation.
CHP'S DECISION IS AWAITED
One of the most curious issues 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 in 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 Vice 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 news report claiming that the majority of CHP commission members opposed meeting with Öcalan in a post on his social media account yesterday. 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 last statement on the same issue came three days ago. Bahçeli argued that the time has come to put an end to the discussion about meeting with Öcalan, asking, "If direct contact cannot be established with one of the main interlocutors of the process, how will results be obtained, and how will progress be made?" He expressed that if no steps are taken in this regard, he would go to Imralı, 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 Imralı with three of my friends using our own means."
In his group speech on Wednesday, President Erdoğan thanked Bahçeli, describing Bahçeli's statements as "brave, visionary, and guiding," while expressing his heartfelt belief that "the Parliamentary Commission will make the most correct and accurate 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 approximately 40 minutes.
After his party's group meeting, Erdoğan did not respond to a journalist's question regarding Bahçeli's statement, "If no one goes, I will go to İmralı." Erdoğan had previously also left unanswered a question about Devlet Bahçeli 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 social media post, Yıldız noted that the delegation consisting of commission members would visit İmralı Prison within a few days, while drawing attention to his words, "If there is a political party that does not want to provide a member of parliament to the delegation, it should share this openly and clearly with the public."