Mardin crisis during the reconciliation process: Trustee decision causes surprise

The process initiated by MHP leader Bahçeli in October 2024 continued with the terrorist organization PKK's decision to disband and the parliamentary commission visiting İmralı to hear from Öcalan. After the parliamentary commission heard from the terrorist organization's leader, Öcalan, it concluded its hearing activities, and the parties submitted their reports.

RELEASE DECISIONS NOT IMPLEMENTED

Expectations for 2026 include the drafting of a joint report followed by the implementation of legal steps. Within the scope of the process conducted by the AKP-MHP alliance with the DEM Party and Öcalan, the implementation of softening measures—primarily the removal of trustees appointed to DEM-run municipalities and the release of figures such as Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ—was being discussed.

THE TRUSTEE ISSUE AND THE SYRIA LEG OF THE PROCESS

Despite the final release decision issued by the ECHR, Demirtaş remains imprisoned in Edirne, and the trustees appointed to municipalities continue to hold their positions. On the other hand, the Syria leg of the process remains one of the most complex issues.

It is frequently stated in Ankara that the SDF, which controls nearly one-third of Syria, has not complied with the 8-point March 10 agreement signed with the Damascus government, and scenarios are being discussed that if this continues, a joint operation with the Damascus government will be carried out.

DEM PARTY'S UNMET DEMANDS

While the process continues in some form, issues such as the Syria leg, the failure to remove trustees, the failure to carry out expected releases, and the failure to meet the DEM Party's demands regarding execution laws continue to bring polemics along with them.

FIRST THE VAN TRUSTEE

Early in 2026, two pieces of bad news arrived for the DEM Party. First, the Van trustee removed the sign of "Perperok Mala Zarokan," the city's first Kurdish-language preschool, and replaced it with a sign reading "Kreş ve Gündüz Bakım Evi" (Preschool and Day Care Center) in Turkish.

Following this, while Ahmet Türk, who was acquitted in the Kobani case, was expected to return to office, a decision taken by the Ministry of Interior today extended the term of the Mardin trustee by another two months.

These decisions, taken and implemented on only the second day of 2026, have prompted the question: "Is the process being shelved?"

News Source: 12punto