Ümit Özdağ reacts to Bahçeli's 'status for Öcalan' proposal

Zafer Party leader Ümit Özdağ made a statement at his party's headquarters regarding the proposal voiced by Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahçeli during his group meeting, which suggested granting terrorist organization leader Abdullah Öcalan a status such as "Peace Process and Politicization Coordinator." Özdağ reacted sharply to Bahçeli's remarks.

In his statement, Özdağ said, "MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli has requested that the leader of the narco-terrorist organization, Öcalan, be appointed as the coordinator for the peace process and politicization." He emphasized that this proposal meant "addressing and shaping social repair, political normalization, democratic participation, the law of brotherhood, public order, national security, and a peaceful future together."

Özdağ continued his remarks as follows:

"In summary, MHP Chairman Bahçeli wants the terrorist leader Öcalan to be given the task of ensuring social repair, political normalization, democratic participation, and the law of brotherhood. By the way, what is this 'law of brotherhood'? There is the law of citizens, there is citizenship law. What is called the law of brotherhood points to a foundation of two peoples and two nations.

Furthermore, according to Bahçeli, while doing these things, Öcalan will also keep Turkey's public order and national security in mind. Yes, this is the point we have reached in negotiations with the PKK and bargaining with Öcalan. It is as if they want to give the narco-terrorist PKK leader the task of reshaping the state and society under his founding leadership. I invite the Turkish nation to gather under the roof of the Zafer Party against this process and to defend our Constitution, our national unity, and our national unitary secular state together."

In his speech at his party's group meeting, Bahçeli had proposed a specific official status for PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, stating, "To put an end to the debates, I propose that this be named 'Peace Process and Politicization Coordinator.' However, of course, other alternatives can also be produced."

Özdağ stated that opposing this proposal is a national responsibility and expressed that society must act with determination to protect the unity and integrity of the state.