Turkey’s opposition parties accuse the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP of lacking transparency, which fuels skepticism about its intentions and the potential outcome of Saturday’s meeting between pro-Kurdish Democratic Equality and People’s Party (DEM Party) representatives and imprisoned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government recently granted the DEM Party’s request to meet with Öcalan, who founded the PKK, a group designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and its Western allies, nearly half a century ago to fight for Kurdish rights.

Historic meeting

The visit on Saturday came two months after Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), extended an invitation to Öcalan to renounce violence and dissolve the PKK, a gesture supported by Erdoğan.

Soon after Bahçeli’s call, Öcalan was allowed his first family visit since March 2020, prompting the DEM Party to make its own request to the justice ministry to visit the 75-year-old PKK leader.

PKK militants subsequently claimed responsibility for an attack in October on a Turkish defense contractor that killed five, which delayed the government approval of DEM’s request.

Over the years, Öcalan has engaged in talks with authorities to resolve what is often called Turkey’s “Kurdish issue,” a term prevalent in Turkey’s public discourse that refers to the demand for equal rights by the country’s Kurdish population and their struggle for recognition.

The most recent efforts at a peace process collapsed in 2015, sparking the resumption of violence, especially in the Kurdish-majority southeast.

The government’s approval of the DEM Party visit comes after rebels in neighboring Syria overthrew strongman President Bashar al-Assad on December 8.

The visit to Öcalan, who has been held since 1999 in a prison on İmralı Island in the Sea of Marmara, was the party’s first in almost 10 years.

DEM Party representatives Pervin Buldan and Sırrı Süreyya Önder met with Öcalan on İmralı Island on Saturday.

In a statement following the meeting, the DEM Party shared Öcalan’s message, which emphasized the importance of Turkish-Kurdish brotherhood and a commitment to resolving the Kurdish issue within a peaceful framework.

Öcalan’s message also highlighted his readiness to contribute positively to the ongoing process initiated by President Erdoğan and MHP leader Bahçeli’s “new paradigm” for peace.

According to a report by Voice of America’s Turkish edition, Buldan and Önder said they were “more hopeful than ever” about the potential for progress. They announced plans to provide further updates in the coming months, citing the need for discretion during the early stages of dialogue.

Cautious opposition

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) called for greater transparency in the process and said the Turkish parliament should remain the central platform for addressing such critical issues.

“We believe the solution must be found within the framework of parliament. Any process that disregards the sensitivities of families of martyrs [who were killed in the fight with the PKK] and veterans would be unacceptable,” the Gazete Duvar news website quoted CHP spokesman Deniz Yücel as saying.

Similarly, the Good (İYİ) Party expressed uncertainty about the government’s intentions. İYİ leader Müsavat Dervişoğlu questioned the “new paradigm” described by Öcalan.

“We do not fully understand what this paradigm entails or what the government seeks to achieve. Clarity is crucial,” the Haber Sol news website quoted Dervişoğlu as saying.

MHP leader Bahçeli’s role in initiating this process has been a surprising turn. Known for his staunch opposition to previous peace efforts, Bahçeli’s endorsement of talks has drawn mixed reactions. Analysts speculate that his support reflects the AKP’s strategy to address regional instability and strengthen domestic unity ahead of upcoming elections.

Not all political actors have been receptive. Far-right Victory Party (ZP) leader Ümit Özdağ condemned the talks. He accused the government of enabling Öcalan to push his agenda and criticized the AKP and MHP for risking national integrity.

“This government has consistently blurred the lines between fighting terror and negotiating with terrorists,” the Kronos news website quoted Özdağ as saying.

The discussions have also drawn criticism from smaller parties and civic organizations. Speaking to VOA, the Kurdistan Socialist Party (PSK) and Dicle Toplumsal Araştırmalar Merkezi (DİTAM) have called for broader inclusion in the process. DİTAM Vice President Sedat Yurtdaş stressed the importance of building a sociopolitical framework that reflects Turkey’s realities, warning that “top-down solutions” risk alienating critical stakeholders.

Islamist opposition New Welfare Party (YRP) leader Fatih Erbakan echoed these sentiments and urged the government to engage regional representatives and communities rather than focusing solely on high-level negotiations.

“True resolution requires the involvement of all affected groups,” Haber Sol quoted Erbakan as saying.

The comparisons between the current process and the failed peace talks of 2012-2015 are inevitable. Observers have noted key differences, including the broader political spectrum’s level of involvement this time and the shifting dynamics in the Middle East following the regime change in Syria.

Yet many remain skeptical. Critics argue that the AKP’s approach prioritizes political gain over lasting solutions. The lack of a clear roadmap underscores the fragility of the process.