Turkish lawmakers are set to vote on a draft report aimed at advancing the peace process with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a move that could mark a significant step toward ending more than four decades of conflict.
A parliamentary commission in Ankara is scheduled to consider adopting the roughly 60-page report, which was circulated ahead of the vote. The document proposes a series of legal reforms in parallel with the PKK laying down arms, and urges the judiciary to revise legislation to comply with rulings from the European Court of Human Rights and Türkiye’s Constitutional Court.
The vote comes amid what the government calls its “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, a broader effort to move beyond decades of armed conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and deeply shaped the country’s politics and security landscape. Since early 2025, the PKK has taken symbolic steps toward disarmament and withdrawal, including announcing dissolution and a ceasefire following appeals by its jailed leader Abdullah Öcalan to end armed struggle and pursue political engagement.
If the commission approves the report, it could pave the way for parliamentary debates on specific legal changes designed to facilitate the reintegration of former PKK members, amend anti-terrorism laws and revise penal codes tied to the conflict. Earlier drafts have also discussed ending the practice of appointing provincial governors and other reforms aimed at addressing long-standing Kurdish political grievances.
Support for the initiative goes beyond the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), with other parties including the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) backing measures linked to the peace process. Lawmakers have also previously discussed direct engagement with Öcalan, including the possibility of visiting him in prison to further negotiations.
While public opinion on the peace process remains mixed in Türkiye, proponents say advancing legal and political reforms alongside disarmament is crucial for establishing long-term stability and building trust between the state and Kurdish communities. Critics warn of potential backlash if reforms are seen as too broad or if security concerns are not adequately addressed.
The parliamentary vote, expected on Wednesday, will be closely watched both domestically and internationally, as Ankara seeks to transform a historic ceasefire and disarmament into a sustainable political settlement.
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