Numan Kurtulmuş gives green light to Bahçeli's Öcalan call: 'It would relieve Turkey'

Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş has given a green light to the call made by MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli from the parliamentary podium regarding Öcalan. Kurtulmuş stated, "Politics cannot be conducted with one hand on a weapon and the other in the ballot box. Steps taken in this regard would relieve Turkey."

Don't leave your news choices to an algorithm - decide for yourself what you read. Add 12punto to your preferred sources!

Numan Kurtulmuş gives green light to Bahçeli's Öcalan call: 'It would relieve Turkey'

Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş answered questions from journalists on the plane while returning from the G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20) in Brazil.

Regarding questions about the new constitution discussions, Kurtulmuş made the following statements:

"Constitutional negotiations are a very difficult process. We have known this from the very beginning. But it is not impossible. On the contrary, I think this parliament is much more competent and much closer to drafting a constitution. Because it is a parliament with very high representation power; 95 percent of the public's votes are represented in the Assembly, there are 14 political parties, and 6 of them have groups in the Assembly. We have a parliament that features polyphony, not monologue. I believe that if our parties identify negotiation methods well and approach this issue without prejudice, without saying 'I don't want it, I'm closing the door,' results can be achieved."

HE SAID IT WOULD RELIEVE TURKEY

Kurtulmuş gave the following response to a question regarding MHP Chairman Bahçeli's proposal that "the leader of the terrorist organization, Abdullah Öcalan, should speak at the DEM Party Parliamentary Group Meeting and announce that terrorism has completely ended and the PKK has been disbanded":

"Politics cannot be conducted with one hand on a weapon and the other in the ballot box. Politics must not touch anything other than the ballot box, must not take orders or instructions from any will other than the national will, and must not act under their guidance. Steps taken in this regard would relieve Turkey. The place where all these negotiations will take place is the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, which is the manifestation of the national will. I hope we transition to a period where terrorism is not discussed and terrorism is reduced to zero. We have paid very heavy prices as a nation; enough is enough."

'EARLY ELECTION' STATEMENT

Regarding a question about early elections, Kurtulmuş assessed, "Turkey does not currently have an early election agenda. I do not think it is very meaningful to talk or engage in political debate over an agenda that does not exist. The parliament in Turkey has been elected and is on duty until 2028. The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is on duty until 2028. This is the responsibility given and entrusted by the nation."

ERDOĞAN IS STILL SILENT

Following MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's call regarding PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan at the MHP Group Meeting on October 22, all eyes turned to AKP President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. However, Erdoğan has not made a statement clear enough to answer the questions on people's minds since that day.

WHAT DID BAHÇELİ SAY?

MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli continued his initiatives—which began with him shaking hands with DEM Party deputies on October 1 and continued with his call on October 22 for PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan to "disband the organization and speak at the DEM Party group in the TBMM"—with a call to extend President Erdoğan's term for one more period.

Speaking at his parliamentary group meeting on November 5, Bahçeli said: "If a heavy blow is dealt to the inflation monster, and if Turkey reaches the peak of political and economic stability, isn't it a natural and correct choice for our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to be elected once more? What are we going to do, look for a candidate within the CHP four years before the election?"

"In this context, won't making the necessary constitutional arrangements be among our upcoming tasks? For continuity in the state, stability in politics, and the construction of the Century of Turkey, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is the guarantee, he is the lover of the nation, and in our opinion, he is the only option with his experience and background."

Reiterating his call for Öcalan to speak at the DEM Party group on the condition that he announces that “terrorism has ended and the PKK has been disbanded,” Bahçeli said, “Let him come to the DEM group, let him say these one by one, let the truth come to light, and let him benefit from the right to hope. I stand behind my word and I insist on my proposal.”

News Source: 12punto