Öcalan’s historic call to disband PKK elicits mixed reactions from opposition leaders

Jailed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan’s historic call for the militant group to lay down its arms and disband has sparked a range of reactions from opposition leaders, from cautious optimism to outright skepticism, as they raise critical questions about the future of the peace process.

“All armed groups must lay down their arms, and the PKK must disband,” Öcalan said in a landmark declaration read by a delegation of lawmakers from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) following their visit to a prison on İmralı Island Thursday. The call marks Öcalan’s most direct appeal for the group to dissolve itself in the four decades since the PKK took up arms against the Turkish state.

Opposition leaders have expressed a mixture of support and concern regarding the potential impact of Öcalan’s statement, which comes after years of unsuccessful peace talks and a history of violence. Some welcomed the call as a chance to end the bloodshed, while others voiced reservations about the political motives behind the declaration.

In a statement on X, Özgür Özel, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), welcomed Öcalan’s call for the laying down of ams but emphasized the need for a transparent and democratic process. He said the CHP would continue to advocate for resolving the Kurdish issue through democratic means, with the Turkish parliament serving as the forum for dialogue.

The Kurdish issue, a term prevalent in Turkey’s public discourse, refers to the demand for equal rights by the country’s Kurdish population and their struggle for recognition.

The CHP leader also noted that while the call for the PKK to lay down its arms and disband was important, it must be followed by actions that ensure a lasting peace.

Özel made further comments on the peace process following a visit to the headquarters of the Islamist New Welfare Party (YRP) in Ankara on Friday, criticizing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s approach for lacking transparency and sincerity. He accused Erdoğan of attempting to shift all political risk onto his coalition partner, far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, whose support has been crucial in advancing the peace process. The CHP leader accused Erdoğan of seeking personal gain while avoiding accountability.

Özel said the CHP would support any solution that serves the best interests of the people, bringing peace and justice.

YRP leader Fatih Erbakan said he finds Öcalan’s call to be “a reasonable approach towards peace” while opposing any concessions to him, such as the granting of his right to hope or house arrest.

The “right to hope” refers to the assessment of whether a prisoner, based on good behavior, may be conditionally released after serving a portion of their sentence, as determined by law.

Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of İstanbul and a prominent figure in the opposition, also expressed cautious optimism about Öcalan’s statement but reminded the public that the responsibility for implementing peace rests with the Turkish government. He said that while the call for the laying down of arms was “valuable,” the real challenge lay in creating a political environment that fosters genuine reconciliation.

Terörü bitirecek, şehitlerimizin ailelerinin ve gazilerimizin helalliğini alacak her girişim ülkemiz adına değerlidir ve önemlidir. Bu vesileyle çağrıyı değerli buluyoruz. Ancak, sorumluluk sadece tek bir tarafın değil, bu ülkeyi yönetenlerin de omuzlarındadır. Türkiye’nin… https://t.co/BFcM6IvKyX

— Ekrem İmamoğlu (@ekrem_imamoglu) February 28, 2025

Ali Babacan and Ahmet Davutoğlu, two former heavyweights of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), also welcomed Öcalan’s call to disarm.

Bugün akşam saatlerinde DEM Parti İmralı heyeti tarafından yapılan açıklamayı memnuniyetle karşılıyorum.

Terör örgütü PKK’nın silah bırakarak, varlığını feshetmesi tarihi bir gelişme olacaktır.

Şimdi bu çağrının gereğinin yapılmasını, herhangi bir tereddüte yol açmayacak…

— Ali Babacan (@alibabacan) February 27, 2025

While Babacan, leader of the Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA), described the call as a “historic development” and emphasized the importance of Turkey addressing its issues through democratic dialogue, Davutoğlu, leader of the Future Party (GP), said the Turkish parliament must play a central role in the peace process.

Müsavat Dervişoğlu, the chairman of the nationalist opposition İYİ (Good) Party, was less optimistic about Öcalan’s statement, suggesting that the political context surrounding the message raised concerns about its true intentions. Dervişoğlu criticized the government’s approach to the Kurdish issue and warned that such declarations might be used for political leverage rather than for the real benefit of the country.

“No matter what name or justification is given, this process is nothing more than a lifelong presidency bargain by tampering with the definition of the nation. It serves no other purpose,” he said.

Gov’t calls on all Kurdish militant groups to disarm

Meanwhile, AKP spokesperson Ömer Çelik issued a statement on Friday regarding Öcalan’s call, saying that all extensions of the PKK, including the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and the Democratic Union Party (PYD), must disband. This includes dismantling the group’s presence both in Turkey and in its neighboring regions, specifically Iraq and Syria.

He noted that there is “no room for negotiation” regarding the qualities of the state and added that there will be “no trade-offs” in the peace process.

“The ultimate goal is a terror-free Turkey and the disbandment of the terrorist organization is essential,” Çelik said.

The government’s stance on this process will be crucial in determining whether Öcalan’s call will lead to genuine peace or if it will become yet another chapter in Turkey’s long-standing conflict with the PKK.