The terrorist leader was expecting status: The Palace announced Öcalan's 'role' in the process

Chief Advisor to the President and Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Legal Policies Board, Mehmet Uçum, made statements regarding the work being carried out within the scope of the second opening process, referred to as 'Terror-Free Turkey'.

ANNOUNCED THE 'ROLE' TO BE GIVEN TO ÖCALAN

Uçum stated that four sub-commissions have been established within the Monitoring and Evaluation Board, which was formed under the Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration. According to the information provided by Uçum, the leader of the terrorist organization PKK, Abdullah Öcalan, will be given a role in the Disarmament and Strategic Coordination Sub-Commission, one of these commissions.

Reminding that the process came to the agenda following the call by MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, Uçum stated that work is being carried out as a continuation of the period when Öcalan called on the terrorist organization PKK to dissolve itself. It was noted that the regulation, which was accepted and enacted in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), excluded those who were sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment before June 1, 2005, or those who committed crimes requiring such a sentence.

CANNOT BE EVALUATED AS "RELEASED"

Uçum argued that the role to be given to Öcalan should not be interpreted differently. Stating that the residence in İmralı was built as an additional unit attached to the prison, Uçum noted that this is a working opportunity provided for Öcalan to fulfill his role in the process and that it cannot be evaluated as him being "released." Uçum stated, "It is a dialogue process conducted with Öcalan. The goal is clear. It is to ensure the liquidation of the terrorist organization."

Stating that the interlocutor in the terror issue is Öcalan, Uçum argued that it is natural for the person who founded the organization and ordered the use of weapons to be taken as an interlocutor in the dissolution process as well. Uçum said, "If you are conducting a dialogue through a convict regarding the liquidation of a terrorist organization, there is no situation contrary to the law in this. Non-routine processes are solved with non-routine methods."

Uçum also spoke about the situation of former HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş, who has been imprisoned since November 2016. Stating that there is no obstacle for Demirtaş to file an application, Uçum said that the relevant court will decide whether the file falls within the scope.

Making an assessment regarding the election calendar, Uçum stated that if the TBMM decides to renew the elections with the votes of 360 deputies, the ballot box could be set up on April 16, 2028. Uçum stated that this date holds significance as it is the anniversary of the transition to the Presidential Government System.

Stating that he considers the possibility of holding elections in the last quarter of 2027 to be low, Uçum assessed that the elections could be held in March or April.