Turkey Accelerates 'Framework Law' Amid Political Objections, Öcalan Demands Excluded

Turkey's ruling AKP party is fast-tracking a "framework law," a key component of the "opening process," aiming to pass it through parliament before the legislative recess. Initially, the AKP planned to submit the proposal before the break but postpone deliberations until the new legislative year in October. This approach would have allowed the party to assess whether disarmament efforts would become permanent on the ground.

However, this timeline shifted due to objections from the MHP and DEM Party. Both parties reportedly resisted delaying the legislation. The DEM Party's reluctance to be persuaded and the MHP's push for a quicker process led the AKP to revise its strategy. The revised plan now targets submitting the bill this week and passing it in the General Assembly before August, without extending parliament's working hours.

Intense efforts are underway within the AKP to ensure the bill's passage within the current timeframe. Whispers in political circles suggest that if the bill is submitted but not debated before the recess, it could be passed through a special session in August. AKP sources deny such plans, emphasizing their goal to pass the bill before the recess. This "Plan B" is considered a low-probability option, only to be used if debates are significantly prolonged.

Reports indicate that the draft law largely omits the demands long advocated by the DEM Party. These demands were discussed during meetings between DEM Party officials and AKP representatives, as well as a recent five-hour meeting with PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan on İmralı Island. Following this meeting, a DEM Party official stated they still lacked information on the draft and emphasized that any framework law must involve those who have laid down arms and Öcalan himself.

AKP sources, meanwhile, have firmly closed the door on any provisions related to Öcalan. The framework law is not expected to alter Öcalan's legal status or address his physical freedom. Instead, discussions focus on incorporating mechanisms for "effective remorse" for members of the terrorist organization who were not directly involved in crimes.

“

This issue's counterpart is not us; it is those who laid down arms and Abdullah Öcalan. There can be no framework law without the will of those who laid down arms.