Bahattin Yücel: The Öcalan and 'Right to Hope' debates will deeply affect politics

Former Minister of Tourism Bahattin Yücel evaluated the "Right to Hope" debates, which MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli brought up during his group meeting, in his column in Gazete Pencere.

Yücel made significant observations by addressing the possibilities of Öcalan's release and the developments taking place on the political stage.

In Yücel's article, it was pointed out that the debates, which began with Bahçeli's statements, confirmed rumors that had been circulating in Ankara's political circles for a long time.

The possibility that Öcalan could be released after completing his 25-year prison sentence is emerging as part of the discussions in the TBMM.

"THE PEOPLE'S ALLIANCE'S NEW AGENDA IS THE RIGHT TO HOPE"

In his article, Yücel suggested that the rapprochements seen during the sessions at the TBMM General Assembly could be a sign of a pre-planned process. He stated that in the recent meetings between the partners of the People's Alliance, the first item on the agenda was, in Bahçeli's words, "getting DEM'd" (referring to the DEM Party).

Emphasizing that economic problems and increasing poverty are insufficient to convince voters, Yücel argued that the government cannot sustain the situation until the elections under current conditions.

He expressed that it is controversial to associate the AKP-MHP partnership's proposal for change in Kurdish policies with Bahçeli's "Right to Hope" rhetoric.

"A NEW PHASE OF THE GMEP IN THE MIDDLE EAST"

In the continuation of his article, Yücel stated that Öcalan has once again appeared on the scene as part of a design that will deeply affect Turkish politics.

He drew attention to the similarities between today's agenda and the capture of Öcalan in 1999 through an operation in Kenya. Furthermore, Yücel stated that it would not be a surprise if Kurdish movements in Syria and Northern Iraq emerge with different political identities in the advancing stages of the US's Greater Middle East Project (GMEP).

Predicting that an autonomous Kurdish structure in northern Syria could result in the Golan Heights being officially ceded to Israel in connection with relations with Israel, Yücel stated that this would increase pressure on Iran and ensure the GMEP reaches its goals.

"DEMİRTAŞ AND THE CHP'S ROLE ARE IMPORTANT"

Yücel also evaluated the visit of CHP Chairman Özgür Özel to Selahattin Demirtaş, who is imprisoned in Edirne, one day before Bahçeli's statements, as part of these developments.

"HARBINGER OF A NEW PROCESS IN THE POLITICAL AGENDA"

At the end of his article, Yücel argued that the sudden change in the AKP-MHP alliance's Kurdish policy would not be effective in overcoming economic difficulties. However, he stated that the debates started by Bahçeli's initiatives could initiate a new process in Turkish politics.

Stating that one should look at recent developments with an understanding that defines politics as the concentrated form of economics, Yücel predicted that political debates will deepen in the coming period.

The full text of Bahattin Yücel's article

The debates that began with the MHP Chairman's statements confirmed rumors that had been circulating in Ankara's political circles for some time. Under the roof of the TBMM, the first act of a design that creates the impression that Öcalan, who has completed a quarter-century in İmralı, will be released, has begun.

It is sensed that this rapprochement, which started with a handshake in the General Assembly during the first session of the TBMM's new legislative year, was planned in advance. It is not the first contradiction observed in our political life that the first, and perhaps only, item on the agenda in the recent private meetings of the People's Alliance partners is related to "getting DEM'd," in the words of the MHP leader.

It is clear that the economic management cannot convince tens of millions of voters, who are becoming increasingly impoverished through number games, of a success story. It is understood that the government cannot sustain the situation until the scheduled elections due to the bottleneck. It is quite interesting that this reality is understood by the AKP-MHP leadership, if not by the opposition.

A quarter of a century later, Öcalan is once again emerging with a design that will deeply affect Turkish politics. It is understood that we will experience a similar situation to the Kenya operation, which provided a lifeline to the Ecevit Government, under today's conditions.

It can be said that we have moved to a higher stage of the GMEP, which was initiated in the Middle East with the Iraq War in 1990. It will not be a surprise if the separatist Kurdish political movement, whose armed influence is gradually decreasing in Northern Iraq and which has no power left within Turkey's borders, appears before us this time in Syria with a different political identity.

It seems the next stage will be for Syria, under Israeli pressure in the south, to officially cede the Golan Heights, which are under de facto occupation, following a Kurdish political formation that will take place in the autonomous region on its northern borders. Thus, it can be said that the GMEP has achieved its goal, apart from forcing a regime change in Iran.

There will undoubtedly be debate over how credible it is to link this sudden change proposal in the AKP-MHP partnership's Kurdish policy to what Bahçeli defines as the "Right to Hope." However, the success of this design also depends on the support or neutralization of the CHP and Selahattin Demirtaş, who is held in Edirne.

It would be contrary to the nature of politics to think of CHP Chairman Özel's visit to Demirtaş in Edirne, one day before the MHP Chairman's statements in Parliament on October 22, as independent of these developments. Moreover, considering his mention of a comprehensive 6-day visit to the Southeast, it becomes easier to find answers to some questions.

When viewed from this perspective, the behind-the-scenes of the CHP's persistent stance on a line of softening and reconciliation, rather than a political construct based on early elections following its success in the local elections, becomes clear.

The economic difficulties caused by the incorrect relationship between interest rates and inflation, which resulted in a ruthless transfer of wealth, do not seem likely to be overcome by the impact of recent developments. However, it should not be considered fortune-telling to predict that the debates that have become widespread at the top of the political agenda with Bahçeli's proposals will initiate a new process in Turkish politics.

It is necessary to look at the latest developments in domestic politics from this direction as well, confirming the understanding that defines politics as the concentrated form of economics.