Ümit Özdağ criticizes the government over the process: 'Is a legal basis being prepared for the PKK?'

Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ evaluated current issues at a press conference held at his party's headquarters. Özdağ specifically brought to the agenda the point reached in the government's "Terror-Free Turkey" process and the contradictions in statements regarding migration management.

Criticizing economic policies and inflation data in harsh terms, Özdağ said, "Turkish politics is being redesigned with absolute nullity, but the real problem is absolute poverty, the crisis experienced in the kitchen." Claiming that the inflation data to be announced by TUIK is being manipulated to keep salary raises at a low level, Özdağ alleged that there will be no significant raise for the minimum wage or pensions in July.

THE PKK PROCESS AND THE LEGAL BASIS DEBATE

Making assessments regarding the resolution process, Özdağ argued that the stage reached does not match the promises made at the beginning. "The negotiation process with the PKK, which was started by saying 'Terror-Free Turkey', has completed 20 months. It was initially said that there would be no give-and-take process, no bargaining, and that the PKK would lay down its arms unconditionally. Today, however, AK Party Spokesperson Ömer Çelik says, 'A legal basis must be created for the PKK to lay down its arms.' Is this the point reached in the time that has passed?" said Özdağ, drawing attention to the fact that political status for the terrorist organization is being discussed in the process.

Claiming that the new draft law prepared in Parliament, even if it does not bring an amnesty, aims for the integration of organization members, including the PKK and its ringleaders, into society, Özdağ stated, "The members of the terrorist organization are allowed to speak at rallies organized by the DEM Party in many cities. The perpetrator of the Mavi Çarşı massacre shouts from the podium that they do not regret it. This is unacceptable."

Reminding that contrary to the expectations at the beginning of the process, the organization's leaders announced that they had stopped their 'armed struggle strategy' instead of laying down their arms, Özdağ said, "Neither did the PKK dissolve itself, nor did it lay down its arms."

MIGRATION POLICY AND CONTRADICTIONS IN FIGURES

Özdağ also drew attention to the differences in the refugee figures announced by the Presidency of Migration Management. He pointed out that while the number of people returning to Syria has been announced as 1 million 434 thousand since 2016 in some official statements, the Ambassador to Damascus, Nuh Yılmaz, gave the number of those who returned only after December 8, 2024, as 700 thousand.

Stating that these figures show inconsistencies by year, Özdağ said, "While the number of Syrians under temporary protection was 2 million 834 thousand 441 in 2016, this number rose to 2 million 901 thousand 478 in 2024. Supposedly 1 million 440 thousand people returned to their country, but the number has not decreased, on the contrary, it has increased. Even official data contradicts itself," he said.

Highlighting the difference between the number of returning Syrians and the total Syrian population in the country, Özdağ asked, "It is announced that a total of 313 thousand 629 Syrians returned to Syria between 2021-2025. In the same period, the number of Syrians appears to have decreased by 1 million 399 thousand people. There is no clear information about the remaining over 1 million people. Were they made citizens, or did they remain unregistered?"

Özdağ also criticized the statements of officials that Syrians are no longer expected to return to their countries and that integration processes should begin, saying, "It is stated that they will remain in Turkey, and it is expressed that integration will be provided from now on. These steps pave the way for refugees to be naturalized and vote in elections."

The Zafer Party leader emphasized that his party's approach is very clear, using the following words: "We will send all refugees and illegal immigrants back to their countries within the framework of the law. Let everyone live in their own homeland, and let the Syrians continue their lives in their own country as friends of Turkey."

News Source: 12punto