Turkish Presidential Advisor Mehmet Uçum has defended the ruling coalition’s unity, asserting that far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli’s controversial proposal for Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan to address parliament was made with President Erdoğan’s full knowledge.
Speaking on Ekol TV on Thursday, Uçum addressed growing speculation about tensions within the alliance following Bahçeli’s suggestion that the imprisoned PKK leader could potentially declare his group’s dissolution from parliament. “The idea that Bahçeli’s comments were made without the president [Erdoğan]’s awareness is baseless and entirely provocative,” Uçum said.
The advisor emphasised that Bahçeli’s proposal was purely hypothetical and would require significant legal changes. “For such a scenario to happen, the state would have to establish the legal framework,” he explained, adding that any consideration would be contingent on the PKK’s complete disarmament and surrender.
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Uçum shared a personal encounter that highlighted public sentiment on the issue. “A relative of a fallen soldier in Erzurum told me, ‘If terrorism ends in Turkey, forget about releasing Öcalan – I would host him for breakfast at my home,'” he said, suggesting that even those most personally affected might be willing to accept dramatic measures like Öcalan’s involvement if it would guarantee an end to the Kurdish conflict.
The controversy emerged after Bahçeli proposed in October that Öcalan, imprisoned since 1999, could declare the PKK’s dissolution from parliament under specific conditions. While Erdoğan initially called this a “historic opportunity”, the subsequent removal of three pro-Kurdish mayors on 4 November sparked renewed speculation about alliance tensions.
“There is an extraordinary level of harmony and cooperation between Bahçeli and President Erdoğan,” Uçum stated, dismissing suggestions of discord within the ruling coalition. He clarified that any potential address by Öcalan would only be considered in the context of achieving what he termed a “Turkey without terrorism”.
