At a Glance

• Kurtulmus hailed the bill as a unique, local model for unity.
• DEM Party marked the law as a milestone for permanent peace and equality.
• Ak Party’s Guler emphasized the historic moments aimed at silencing weapons for brotherhood.
• The legislation was approved with 468 votes in favor and 88 against.

Turkish Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş and AK Party officials hailed the passed Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration as a unique, locally developed model for unity, while the DEM Party marked it as a significant milestone for peace and democracy.

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Key Statements and Focus Area

• Numan Kurtulmuş stressed that the legislation “is completely local and national, put forth solely by Turkey's own political determination and the power of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.”
• The AK Party Parliamentary Group Chairman noted, “Today in the TBMM General Assembly, we are witnessing historic moments in the name of silencing the weapons and building bridges of peace and brotherhood.”
• DEM Party: “A significant milestone has been passed in the historic Peace and Democratic Society Process.”

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The Turkish parliament approved the bill on Monday with a decisive majority, passing the legislation with 468 votes in favor, 88 against, and 6 abstentions.

Following the passage of the bill, Kurtulmuş stated that the step “is a historic milestone taken toward the goal of a ‘Terror-Free Turkey,’ drawing strength from the centuries-old spirit of unity and brotherhood of our nation.”

He emphasized that the "Terror-Free Turkey" objective "is simultaneously the construction of a unique Turkish model."

He stated that the strong legislative determination displayed in parliament would lay the groundwork for a historic new era capable of shaping the country’s future for centuries to come.

Backed by broad cross-party support, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the Republican People's Party (CHP), and the DEM Party, along with the New Party and other factions, voted in favor of the bill.

AK Party Parliamentary Group Chairman Abdullah Güler said, “We want to open new horizons for Turkey, to raise Turkey up, and to make Turkey unstoppable on its path to becoming a powerful country that can no longer be contained or restrained.”

“We want to present flowers gathered from all seven geographic regions of my country to the mothers of my country—to those pure hearts,” he added.

Güler expressed hope that the legislation will be concluded “in mutual understanding and tolerance, and successfully enacted into law.”

Meanwhile, the DEM Party hoped that the bill will bring “positive results for the Peace and Democratic Society Process.”

“We express our gratitude to all members of parliament and political actors who contributed with their critiques and proposals,” the party added.

The DEM Party noted that their responsibility to the region’s peoples regarding the peace process has significantly intensified.

From this hour onward, our responsibility in the Peace and Democratic Society Process has become even heavier for the peoples of Turkey and the region. “Aware of this, we will sustain our struggle and make peace, democracy, and equality permanent in these lands.”

FYI

The Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration is a 12-article piece of legislation enacted by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on Monday following a grueling 12-hour general assembly debate.

The law serves as the legal and structural architecture for the peace process, aiming to permanently resolve the country's decades-long conflict with the PKK. 

After the publication of the decree, a six-month window will be granted to PKK members and individuals who left for foreign countries due to PKK-related cases to return to Northern Kurdistan and Turkey.

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