The first response from the AK Party side to Bahçeli's commission call.

20.05.2025 11:50

MHP leader Bahçeli had called for the establishment of a "National Unity and Solidarity" commission in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) following the dissolution of the PKK. TBMM President Kurtulmuş responded to the call by saying, "We will all support the process together," while the first statement on behalf of the AK Party came from Deputy Chairman Zafer Sarıkaya. Sarıkaya stated, "I believe it is not correct to move on to other stages without the PKK laying down its arms."

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On May 19, MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, who published a message on the occasion of Youth and Sports Day, also gave important messages regarding the new process. Bahçeli stated, "With the declaration of the decision to lay down arms and dissolve the separatist terrorist organization PKK on May 12, 2025, we have entered a new phase that is sensitive, delicate, fragile, and requires patience. In this context, the most appropriate option is to establish a commission in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), which is the embodiment of national will, with the participation of political parties representing all segments of society, to determine the roadmap for the upcoming period, along with constitutional duties, powers, and responsibilities."

BAHÇELİ'S CALL FOR A COMMISSION

In accordance with traditions, it is our sincere proposal and wish to establish the "Strategy for a Terror-Free Turkey in the New Century; National Unity and Solidarity Commission" upon the call of the TBMM President. The commission, which will include representatives from 16 political parties represented in the Gazi Assembly, should consist of 100 members, and commissions should be established according to working conditions," he stated.

TBMM PRESIDENT KURTULMUŞ: ALL POLITICAL PARTIES WILL SUPPORT

While Bahçeli's "commission" proposal resonated widely in the public, a response from TBMM President Numan Kurtulmuş, who attended the May 19 event held at Gabar Mountain in Şırnak, was not delayed. Kurtulmuş stated, "The process is continuing as planned. Now, the next step is for the terrorist organizations to surrender their weapons. After this surrender is realized, the place where this issue will be discussed, both politically and in terms of preparing the legal ground, is the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. In the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, all political parties will support the process together. The details of how the commission will be structured can be discussed," he replied.

AK PARTY'S SARIKAYA: PKK MUST LAY DOWN ARMS FIRST

The first response to the "commission" call from the AK Party came from Deputy Chairman Zafer Sarıkaya. Speaking about the issue during a live broadcast on NTV, Sarıkaya stated, "Processes need to progress step by step. If you transition a process at a certain stage to the next stage before completing the necessary actions at that stage, I do not believe it is very correct to move on to the next stage. I believe that the weapons must be laid down and surrendered, and it should be clearly communicated by MIT to the relevant institutions that there is no threat element arising from Turkey."