On domestic matters, Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), dismissed rumours of early elections, calling such speculation “a futile exercise”. He asserted that Turkey has significantly weakened terrorism, declaring, “The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorism is in decline, and the era of a terror-free Turkey is within reach.”
Bahçeli’s direct call for imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan to issue a long-anticipated statement underscored the ongoing significance of the Kurdish issue in Turkish politics. “I sincerely hope that the expected call will be made without delay,” Bahçeli said during his party’s weekly parliamentary group meeting in Ankara. His remarks have fuelled speculation about the government’s approach to resolving Kurdish issues and Öcalan’s role in it.
The MHP leader also addressed a tragic ski chalet fire in Bolu last week, which claimed 78 lives, criticising officials for negligence. He described the incident as “more than a disaster; it is outright murder.” Bahçeli called for accountability from all parties involved, from the hotel owner to provincial officials.
Shifting to international matters, Bahçeli reiterated his party’s support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, condemning the forced displacement of Gazans as “unacceptable”.
Bahçeli’s comments come amid a tense political and international landscape, with heightened attention on Turkey’s domestic policies, Kurdish question, and its role in regional conflicts.
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