What is being discussed in DEM Party circles following Bahçeli's 'Öcalan' call

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's speech at his party's parliamentary group meeting on October 22 has become the center of the agenda.

"Today, I will speak from the heart of the book, in a way that leaves no need for interpretation," said Bahçeli, who called for PKK terrorist leader Abdullah Öcalan to "speak in Parliament," and also brought the "right to hope" for the terrorist leader to the agenda.

Following Bahçeli's call, which dominated the agenda, what is being discussed in the corridors of the DEM Party has emerged.

Sözcü columnist Aytunç Erkin, in his article addressing how Bahçeli's statements resonated within the DEM Party, shared details from his meetings with several figures from the party. Erkin reported that in the conversations, which he relayed without naming the individuals, some DEM Party members stated that they did not expect Bahçeli's statement. According to Erkin, DEM Party members also believe that Bahçeli would not speak at random and that many things have been sat down and discussed.

Erkin relayed what is being discussed in the DEM Party corridors in his article as follows:

"Storms are brewing, but believe me, there is nothing. There is nothing that has reached us. I am watching Musavat Dervişoğlu; he came out with a rope in his hand. It has turned into a war of nationalists. They are trying to harvest votes. There is no concrete situation either. What will happen in the coming days? There is so much misinformation! I cannot even say anything comfortable. Our group also has sensitivities. Every word said is being pulled in a direction. Even a sentence you construct is influential. Warnings are coming from the headquarters, saying, 'Let's not get into polemics while there is no concrete situation.'"

"WE WERE NOT EXPECTING BAHÇELİ'S STATEMENT"

"Devlet Bahçeli makes such radical statements from time to time. If you had told me he would make such a statement... We wouldn't have expected it. I wasn't expecting it. I think more important things will happen in the coming days. This is not information. I am guessing."

"A PROCESS DOMINATED BY INTERNAL DYNAMICS"

I asked, "In the process that started in 2009, there was a third eye. We learned about the international dimension later. How is it today?". The answer was striking:

"I was involved in all of those processes. What makes me happy today is this: The climate in Turkey has changed in 20 days. There are serious demands from internal dynamics regarding a solution to this issue. Not from the outside. Public opinion has also changed. Everyone wants to get rid of the sea of blood. I believe that a solution will be reached not from the outside, but with the support of the domestic public."

"BAHÇELİ DOES NOT SPEAK AT RANDOM"

"The question is: 'What will happen to the YPG in northern Syria?' A DEM official said: 'The YPG issue is Syria's internal problem; let's look at our own problem. When we said Öcalan, they wouldn't listen to us. But Abdullah Öcalan is an influential figure for all Kurds in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. I think these were sat down and discussed. Bahçeli's words are not words spoken at random. That is Syria's internal affair. If the country is to succeed with its own Kurdish citizens, sovereign powers will also be friends with the others. Kurdish citizens in Syria will not pose a danger either. My guess is that this is not a step taken at random."

MIT IS FURTHER AHEAD THAN PARLIAMENT

"The process that started with the opening of Parliament and their pointing to Öcalan is not ordinary. They really know his significant effectiveness. We are talking about a thousand-year-old state, a hundred-year-old state. Wouldn't they know he is effective? But I don't know what kind of meeting there is. In the previous process, the person who took the step was MIT Undersecretary Emre Taner. I met him too. Believe me, their knowledge base is so vast. In our youth, our hair would stand on end when we heard 'MIT'. When I met them, I understood they are further ahead than parliament. They know the subject well. Most likely, it is going through MIT again."