Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with ministers and MPs from his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) at the party headquarters on 6 May, where he made a striking statement:
“We have overcome all obstacles. Today or tomorrow, the PKK will lay down its arms and dissolve itself. Then a new process, a new era for all of us, will begin.”
According to the HaberTürk media outlet, Erdoğan emphasised that once the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) ends its armed struggle, the government will usher in a new phase of processes aimed at strengthening political inclusion, enhancing rights protections, and expanding civic freedoms. Erdoğan acknowledged the complexity of the upcoming phase, warning MPs that while “politics will have a major role to play”, they must also guard against attempts by political actors to exploit the process for personal gain.
The president stressed that this transition will not be easy and that careful political management will be critical. Sources say Erdoğan’s team is preparing legal and constitutional packages that include greater decentralisation, reforms to local governance, expanded language and cultural rights, and measures to improve the independence of the judiciary. These initiatives are seen as vital for addressing longstanding Kurdish grievances and ensuring that the end of armed conflict leads to a sustainable, peaceful political resolution.
While Erdoğan also touched on ongoing judicial investigations into financial crimes linked to Istanbul’s municipal administration, he noted that the government’s main duty is to ensure the judiciary carries out its role independently.
Economic issues were also on the table, with discussions focusing on price controls in the tourism sector and the need for a consistent pricing strategy to protect Turkey’s tourism industry. However, insiders report that the post-dissolution democratic roadmap remained the central focus of the meeting.
Observers note that if the government delivers on its pledges, Turkey could enter a transformative period with the potential to reshape its political landscape, address minority rights, and align more closely with international human rights standards. Yet, critics remain cautious, pointing to past failed peace processes and urging the government to ensure that democratic reforms are not only announced but fully implemented.
