On 12 May, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced it had formally ended its armed struggle and organisational existence, following a final congress held between 5–7 May. The move came in response to a 27 February call by imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan for a transition to peaceful and democratic methods.
The decision marked the conclusion of the longest-running Kurdish rebellion in the history of the Turkish Republic. As attention turns to the political consequences of this development, pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party MP and long-time regional analyst Cengiz Çandar described the move as “historic” and “the beginning of a new phase”.
“This is the first time a Kurdish uprising has been ended voluntarily, without military defeat or the elimination of its leaders,” Çandar told ANF in an interview published on Saturday. “It signals that Kurds may now be in a position to achieve their rights and a recognised status without armed struggle.”
Çandar, who was previously involved in talks between the Turkish state and the PKK during earlier ceasefires, stressed that the current phase should not be seen as a final resolution but as “the beginning of new efforts to resolve the Kurdish question”.
“From now on, the peace process will be carried out as part of the broader struggle for a democratic Turkey. This is a completely new stage,” he said.
‘The end of a historical cycle’
Çandar described the PKK’s 12th Congress as a turning point in modern Turkish and Kurdish history. “The decisions to disarm and dissolve the organisation are of enormous historical significance,” he said. “This shows we’ve entered a new era—an era in which the Kurdish people can claim their place in history without relying on armed struggle.”
He argued that the disbanding of the PKK created a new opportunity to rebuild ties between Turks and Kurds, calling it “an exciting moment” for both peoples.
“This should be understood as a moment in which the longest, most extensive, and most powerful Kurdish uprising in the Republic’s history has been brought to an end by the Kurds themselves,” he said.
Çandar cited Öcalan’s words from February, when the jailed PKK leader called for the group to disband “voluntarily, as any organisation whose existence has not been forcibly ended would do, in order to integrate with the state and society”. According to Çandar, this phrasing was crucial: “The voluntary nature of this decision must be underlined.”
‘No negotiation, no deal—just an opening’
Addressing speculation about secret deals, Çandar rejected the idea that a political bargain had taken place. “This was not a negotiated settlement. There was no deal to be struck—just a recognition that the time had come to open the door to resolving the Kurdish issue through peaceful and democratic means.”
He confirmed that the İmralı process—the talks with Öcalan—had been overseen from the beginning by Turkey’s current intelligence chief, İbrahim Kalın, with the knowledge and approval of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Çandar argued that Erdoğan’s relatively low-profile role, and the prominence of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli in public discourse, may have helped the process move forward.
Strategic implications for the region
According to Çandar, the timing of the PKK’s decision is significant given the shifting regional landscape, particularly in light of the Gaza war and Donald Trump’s return to the US presidency.
“Turkey’s position in this changing Middle East will be tested in Syria,” he said. “If this post-12 May period in Turkey can be consolidated, then Ankara could play a constructive role between Kurdish actors and Syrian figures like Ahmed al-Sharaa. Otherwise, instability in Syria may spill over into Turkey and the Kurdish regions.”
He also warned that some actors, both inside and outside Turkey, may attempt to sabotage the process. “There are always those who fear the strengthening of a historic Turkish-Kurdish alliance,” he said. “Abdullah Öcalan is one of the people most aware of this danger.”
A new phase for Kurdish politics
Çandar noted that the PKK had for decades shaped Kurdish politics in Turkey and beyond. Its withdrawal would have unpredictable effects on the political landscape.
“The PKK was a dominant force for almost 50 years. Its disbandment will create massive changes—some visible now, others we can’t yet foresee,” he said.
In particular, he pointed to the DEM Party as entering a new phase. “The DEM Party will have to reposition itself and adapt to new conditions,” he said, adding that Öcalan could play a future role in shaping a civilian, democratic political identity for the party.
“New dynamics may emerge—unplanned and unexpected ones. Kurdish political life is likely to become more diverse and vibrant.”
Çandar concluded by stating that Kurds now had a real opportunity to gain a more accepted and effective status in Turkey and the region:
“Kurds have the chance to secure a political status that is more recognised and effective than anything they’ve had until now.”
