Permission for İmralı visit to DEM Party came after that summit! What happened in Ahlat?
The permission for the İmralı visit, which the DEM Party had been awaiting for a long time, was granted following the meeting between President Erdoğan and MHP leader Bahçeli in Ahlat. Here are the latest developments reflecting from Ankara's political corridors...
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The new process, which began in October 2024 with MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's call to terrorist organization leader Abdullah Öcalan during his parliamentary group meeting, had continued with the work of the commission established in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM).
Following Bahçeli's move, DEM Party delegations had visited İmralı multiple times to meet with Öcalan.
Following these meetings, as a result of the instructions Öcalan sent to the organization, the PKK announced its decision to lay down arms and dissolve itself.
DEM PARTY'S REACTION: "ARE THE GATES OF İMRALI A FAUCET?"
While the commission in Parliament was rapidly continuing its work, it had drawn attention that the DEM Party had been unable to go to İmralı for about a month.
DEM Party executives, who had been unable to reach İmralı since July 25, expressed their reaction. DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan criticized the government, stating:
"Are the gates of İmralı a faucet in your hands? You open them for a month, you close them for a month. Is this how you support this process? Is this how we will achieve peace?"
THE EXPECTED PERMISSION CAME FROM AHLAT
Following this statement by Bakırhan, eyes turned to the Ahlat meeting held in Malazgirt. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli held a critical meeting there.
According to journalist Nuray Babacan, government sources had responded to the DEM Party's request to go to İmralı by saying, "Let's see Ahlat first." Only 24 hours after this statement, permission was granted for the DEM Party delegation to go to İmralı.
ERDOĞAN'S APPROVAL, BAHÇELİ'S SUPPORT
In political circles, it is commented that every step requires President Erdoğan's approval for the process to accelerate, but that Bahçeli plays the role of the "driving force" in granting this approval. Within the ruling wing, the view prevails that it is not possible for the process to gain momentum without Bahçeli's support.
