By Nergis Demirkaya
The political parties represented in the parliamentary commission — tasked with supervising the Terror-Free Turkey initiative — have started submitting their reports to the speaker of Parliament. But both the governing bloc and the opposition appear far from agreeing on a common “solution law.”
The full content of the reports has yet to be disclosed, but statements from commission members already signal how difficult consensus will be. They diverge on nearly every issue: from the scope and timing of the “solution law” to its substance and prerequisites.
Unless extended, the Parliamentary Commission on Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy — formed after the PKK announced its dissolution and disarmament — has now entered its final two weeks of work.
For nearly four months, the commission pursued two key goals: bolstering public support for the process and developing concrete legal recommendations on how to deal with former PKK members after the organization’s dissolution. To this end, it conducted 134 hearings with individuals and institutions. The work has now reached the legislative proposal stage.
The Speaker’s Office will now read the reports and group similar proposals. Divergent proposals will be included in the joint report along with parties’ dissenting opinions. Once presented to the General Assembly, this report will serve as the roadmap for the envisioned “solution law.”
Although the full details of the parties’ reports remain unclear, remarks of the representatives make one thing evident: consensus will be difficult. Parties differ sharply on the law’s scope, timing, content, and conditions.
CONTENT OF THE LAW
While the AKP, CHP, DEM Party and MHP agree that a special legal framework is needed in response to the PKK’s dissolution, the CHP has also submitted a 29-point democratization package. It includes recognizing Constitutional Court and ECHR rulings, ending trustee appointments, and repealing the disinformation law as a step for press freedom. For specific legal arrangements within the broader democratic solution to the Kurdish issue, the party says it will wait for the Justice Ministry’s draft.
The AKP, the party expected to shape the solution framework heavily, has not presented a detailed proposal. AKP Deputy Chair Mustafa Şen said their recommendation under the heading “legal dimension” was drafted merely to “inspire Parliament should it choose to legislate.” According to this proposal, the crimes of PKK membership and aiding the organization should be nullified due to the group’s dissolution. Individuals on trial or already convicted should benefit from such a change, but be subject to “five years of judicial monitoring.” For those in prison, sentence reductions that “do not offend the public conscience” should apply. The law, he stressed, must distinguish between those who committed crimes and those who did not.
According to the DEM Party, the law must cover everyone — those on trial, in prison, in the mountains, or abroad due to outstanding cases. No distinction should be made between those who “committed crimes” and those who did not. Even the PKK leaders who issued the dissolution decision should benefit. The DEM Party also proposes a broader democratic reform package, from ending the trustee system to amending the Anti-Terror Law and the Execution Law.
The YYP group similarly contends that any new legislation must cover everyone linked to the organization, including its leadership who decided on dissolution.
TIMING OF THE LAW
Parties also differ on the timing. The AKP argues that legislation should come only after state institutions — such as the Defense Ministry or the National Intelligence Organization — formally and publicly verify that the PKK has dissolved and ceased to exist. The MHP likewise insists such verification is a prerequisite for any legal step.
According to the DEM Party, there is an urgent need for a peace law that will form the backbone of the process. Passing the law quickly would “incentivize” disarmament and the return of members, thereby accelerating the process. The YRP group also argues that waiting for official confirmation of dissolution would not speed things up.
FRAMING THE LAW
Another debate concerns the method of introducing the legislation. The DEM Party wants a dedicated “Democratic Integration and Peace Law.” But the AKP and MHP warn that a standalone bill could be labeled a “PKK law,” which they see as politically unpalatable. They argue that since it will require amending multiple laws, the provisions could instead appear as a section within the 12th judicial package — avoiding the impression that “Parliament passed a PKK law.”
ANYTHING FOR ÖCALAN?
One of the most contentious issues is the proposed “Right to Hope,” which would allow inmates serving aggravated life sentences — including PKK founder Abdullah Öcalan — to become eligible for conditional release after a certain period. The DEM Party explicitly demands such a provision. The MHP’s report has not been disclosed, but given Bahçeli’s past remarks, its inclusion would not be surprising. The AKP, however, is known to oppose the idea.
All these issues indicate just how far apart the parties stand even before the joint report is finalized. The real debate will begin once the report reaches the parliamentary agenda. Whether the proposals can converge into a law acceptable to all sides — and which parties will ultimately endorse it — remains the central unanswered question.
