Erdogan dismisses tensions with ultranationalist ally

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denied on Wednesday the existence of any disagreements or tensions with his ultranationalist government ally Devlet Bahceli, as the latter persistently proposes allowing jailed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan to speak at the parliament.

Last month, in a drastic shift in his stance on the Kurdish issue, Bahceli, who is the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), proposed allowing Ocalan to appear in the legislature and call for the dissolution of the armed group.

“The meeting we held with Mr Devlet Bahceli is particularly critical in terms of the harmony, cohesion, and unity of the People's Alliance, as well as the political and social dynamics Turkey is currently experiencing,” Erdogan told journalists on his return flight from Rio de Janeiro after attending the G20 leaders’ summit, referring to the governing alliance between his party and the MHP. 

Both Bahceli and Erdogan met last week for the first time since Bahceli’s speech.

“There is absolutely no disagreement, conflict, or divergence of opinion between us,” the Turkish president added.

Erdogan said during his meeting with Bahceli, the two leaders discussed all the ongoing political issues.

“During our meeting with Mr Bahceli, we thoroughly discussed all the political and national issues on the agenda. We evaluated additional steps that can be taken toward our goal of a ‘Terror-Free Turkey,’” Erdogan said.

Bahceli’s proposal was met with mixed reactions, with strong rejections from the country’s ultranationalist politicians.

The MHP leader said that combating what he labeled as terrorism was “essential” to reaching a political consensus in the country.

Erdogan’s comments come days after the Turkish interior ministry removed three pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) mayors from their positions for “terror” related charges and replaced them with pro-government administrators (trustees).

The decision sparked fury among the supporters of the pro-Kurdish party and the country’s opposition. Bahceli said the mayors should perform their duties within the boundaries of the Turkish state.

The DEM Party is routinely accused of being the political wing of the PKK. Founded in 1978, the PKK initially called for the establishment of an independent Kurdistan but now calls for autonomy. The group is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and Western allies. 

In a speech earlier this month, Bahceli asked the DEM Party to distance itself from the PKK.

For years, the MHP leader has been a stubborn opponent of pro-Kurdish parties in the country, including the DEM Party, for their alleged PKK affiliation.

Bahceli’s proposal in October reignited the possibility of the renewal of a peace process in Turkey. But a day after the comments, the Ankara compound of the Turkish aerospace industries firm (TUSAS), which manufactures drones and other aerial vehicles, was attacked. The PKK later claimed responsibility for the attack.

In 2013, Erdogan’s Justice and Development (AKP) government entered into peace talks with the PKK, paving the way for an unprecedented opening towards Kurds in the country. Kurdish politicians were able to speak freely about their rights, a topic that was previously taboo. The peace talks, which were mediated by the DEM Party’s predecessor the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), collapsed in 2015 and were followed by intense urban fighting in the country’s southwestern Kurdish areas.

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