CHP also joins: Here's what you need to know about the new peace process commission

The structure of the commission to be established in Parliament for the new peace process is becoming clearer. What will the commission's name be, who will be its members, what principles will it employ, and what are the parties' expectations of the commission? The answers to these questions are in our news report.

The deadline for Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş to request political parties submit names for the commission to be established regarding the new peace process expires at 5:00 PM on July 31st. The parties' positions on the planned 51-person commission and the names of those who will be on it are also becoming clearer.

The name of the commission has not yet been finalized. In a letter sent to political parties, Kurtulmuş described it as "a commission to be established within the Turkish Grand National Assembly in line with the goal of a terror-free Türkiye."

MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, in his written statement on July 26, referred to the commission as the “National Unity and Solidarity Commission.”

The Democratic Party (DEM) Party voiced its objections to the process being labeled "Turkey Without Terrorism," stating that its name should be determined by the commission. Finally, Deputy Group Chair Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit emphasized that it would be inaccurate to frame a commission aimed at resolving the Kurdish issue in terms of terrorism and security policies, and that it should be characterized as prioritizing peace and a democratic society.

The CHP also objected to the name "Turkey Without Terrorism," which had become the slogan of the People's Alliance. The CHP proposed the commission, arguing that it should have a mission that would not focus solely on resolving the Kurdish issue but rather contribute to democratization, with the name "Social Peace, Justice, and Democratic Reconciliation Commission."

The names of 21 MPs from the AKP, 10 from the CHP, four each from the DEM Party and MHP, three each from the İYİ Party and the Yeni Yol Party, and one each from HUDA PAR, the Yeni Welfare Party, TİP, EMEP, DSP, and DP were required to be submitted to the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. The İYİ Party had announced that it would not be part of the commission. In this case, the commission is expected to begin its work with 48 members.

CHP Chairman Özgür Özel announced that they would nominate members for the commission today (July 30), following Kurtulmuş's promise that "decisions would be made by a qualified majority." The CHP has not yet decided which members will be on the commission, but it has been stated that members of the party's "Democracy and Justice Commission," which has been preparing for the new peace process since January, may be present. Coordinator Group Deputy Chair Murat Emir and Deputy Chair Gökçe Gökçen , who coordinates the Democracy and Justice Commission, are expected to be on the parliamentary commission.

The AKP has not yet announced the 21 members it will appoint to the commission, but Justice Minister Abdülhamit Gül, who was appointed as the deputy coordinator group chairman during the commission's preparation phase, is expected to be on the commission.

The New Path Group will have one representative from each of the three constituent parties on the committee. The Future Party has chosen İzmir Deputy Mustafa Bilici . The Felicity Party will decide at its meeting tonight, but it is expected that New Path Group Chairman Bülent Kaya will represent the Felicity Party. From the DEVA Party, which will make its decision tomorrow, it is anticipated that Deputy Group Chairman Mehmet Emin Ekmen, Party Spokesperson İdris Şahin , or Sadullah Ergin, the AKP's Justice Minister from 2009 to 2013, when the first peace process began, will serve.

Önder Aksakal, the sole MP from the Democratic Left Party, a component of the People's Alliance, will join the commission. Ahmet Şık will represent the Turkish Workers' Party, and İskender Bayhan will represent the Labor Party.

The four names determined by the DEM Party and forwarded to the Parliamentary Presidency today were Group Deputy Chair Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit , along with Meral Danış Beştaş , Saruhan Oluç and Cengiz Çiçek .

Representing the MHP in the commission will be Deputy Chairman Feti Yıldız and MPs Levent Bülbül , Halil Öztürk and Yücel Bulut .

HUDA PAR will also be included in the commission, but the New Welfare Party and the Democrat Party have not yet declared their stance.

The commission's working principles haven't yet been officially determined, but Özgür Özel reported today that Numan Kurtulmuş said decisions would be made by a qualified majority. The commission could reach decisions with a higher majority than a simple majority, such as a 2/3 or 3/5 majority.

The commission is established by a decision of the Speaker of Parliament, without any legal or constitutional decision or legal provision. The commission's work will be binding upon the submission of the drafted text to the relevant unit. The relevant specialized commissions will evaluate the legislative proposals.

As Speaker of the Assembly, Kurtulmuş is a natural member of the commission, but due to the principle of political neutrality, he will not have voting rights. While he will chair the meetings, he will not participate in decision-making or voting on legislative proposals. Furthermore, it is known that commission meetings will not be open to the press, and the minutes will be made public if the Speaker of the Assembly approves.

The government summarizes its expectations from the new peace process with the slogan "A Turkey Without Terrorism." The PKK's disarmament, the elimination of the risk of a "terrorist state" on its southern borders, and the "fortification of the domestic front" in the face of Israel's increasing instability in the region are among the justifications frequently cited by AKP and MHP members.

AKP Chairman and President Erdoğan, whose previous statements about a “triple alliance” involving the AKP-MHP and DEM Party drew criticism, openly called on the CHP on July 28, saying, “We hope to find a permanent solution to the issue with the ruling party and the opposition, and we reiterate our calls for cooperation.”

The Democratic Party (DEM), a key player in the process it calls "Peace and Democratic Society," is reiterating its calls for a democratic solution to the Kurdish issue as the PKK lays down its arms, emphasizing the strengthening of the struggle on the political stage. In a statement on July 28th, Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit stated that they had joined forces with the CHP and other opposition parties to prevent the commission from being reduced to a technical commission or a matter of disarmament. She said, "The Kurdish issue cannot be resolved without Turkey's democratization. Therefore, we have stated that this commission must incorporate a perspective of democratization and peace and operate with an approach that will permanently resolve the problems."

Since October 1, 2024, when Bahçeli shook hands with DEM members, the CHP has maintained its commitment to making positive contributions to the process, but has been outlining its red lines . The CHP emphasizes that the commission, which they announced they would join after the conditions for qualified majority decision-making are accepted, must serve democratization, operate sincerely and transparently, and with a consensus that will garner the consent of all segments of society, especially the families of martyrs and veterans.

While CHP officials stated that they will not be "topic dummies" in the commission to be established, they expect regulations in laws such as disinformation and the fight against terrorism, as well as the principle of trial without detention in political cases, to be among the commission's agenda items.

EMEP and TİP also warn against the risk of placing the commission at the center of the new constitutional debates, expressing their expectation that it will be the address of lasting peace and democratization.

The New Path Party, which will be represented by three members on the commission, shares similar reservations with other opposition parties. Speaking to Medyascope , New Path Group Deputy Chairman and Future Party Board Member Selçuk Özdağ described their stance on the process with "cautious hope" and explained their lack of trust in the government. "We support a terror-free Turkey, but this government cannot achieve this," Özdağ said, emphasizing Turkey's need for democratization. Özdağ continued:

In a terror-free Türkiye, an environment must be created where the law is applied equally to everyone, democracy is transparently manifested, and human rights and the rule of law are fully and completely demonstrated. We are facing a government that fails to create this environment, especially with the Presidential System of Government. Today, the guns may be silent, but bribery, extortion, bid rigging, and negotiations continue on the other side. Today, that gun may fall silent, and tomorrow, another weapon will be unleashed. We are participating in the commission to provide added value to the terror-free Türkiye that everyone expects, and we will monitor it carefully and cautiously. We remain vigilant.

Questioning the government's sincerity and arguing that it's purportedly carrying out the process to prolong its life, Özdağ said, "Can those who still think they're serving democracy by transferring members of parliament do this? It's very difficult. Of course, the weapons should be laid down. We're pleased that the weapons are being laid down. However, we're also disturbed by the reopening of old wounds, the wounds of yesterday."

Özdağ, who said, “I hope the government doesn’t pull a rabbit out of a hat, but brings law, democracy and human rights to the table,” stated that Parliament Speaker Kurtulmuş had made clear statements that the constitution would not be on the agenda of this commission.

Özdağ, highlighting the shortcomings in transparently conveying developments in the process to opposition parties and the public and criticizing the lack of equal representation on the commission, said, “We have a cautious hope. That hope is the hope of a terror-free Turkey. However, we are cautious because we are facing a government with a criminal record in its approach to law, democracy, human rights, equal opportunity in education, and fair income distribution.”