AKP Insiders Warn Over İmralı Process, Say Öcalan Has Taken Center Stage Without Concrete Steps

Summary:

Senior figures within Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) have voiced growing unease over the stalled İmralı process, warning that the initiative has failed to deliver tangible progress while increasingly elevating the role of imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. Party insiders say the absence of concrete disarmament steps is eroding both political credibility and grassroots support.

Behind closed doors in Ankara, concerns are mounting within the Justice and Development Party (AKP) over what officials describe as a stalled and politically costly İmralı process. Launched under the banner of a “Terror-Free Türkiye,” the initiative is now widely seen within party ranks as having lost momentum, while creating discomfort among the AKP’s core voter base.

According to reporting by Merve Kılıç of Cumhuriyet, AKP insiders say the process has reached a deadlock and is increasingly difficult to defend politically.

Process launched by Bahçeli’s call

The renewed İmralı process was set in motion following a high-profile call by Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), urging jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan to address parliament. The initiative later gained momentum with statements from DEM Party figures, including Pervin Buldan, who spoke of entering a “second, legal phase” of the process.

A parliamentary delegation’s visit to İmralı Island and ongoing contacts kept the process alive for more than a year. However, AKP insiders now argue that despite extensive political messaging, no substantive developments have materialized on the ground.

‘Cautious optimism has faded’

Within AKP circles, officials say the early “cautious optimism” surrounding the initiative has given way to frustration. Party sources note a growing gap between official rhetoric and realities on the ground, particularly the continued presence of the PKK’s armed structures.

According to these assessments, the failure of the organization to disarm fully has become the central obstacle. “A process that moves forward only in words, but not on the ground, cannot generate social legitimacy,” one senior party source said.

‘No concrete step’ on disarmament

AKP insiders stress that full and unconditional disarmament by the PKK remains a non-negotiable prerequisite for any meaningful progress. To date, they argue, no concrete or confidence-building steps have been taken in this direction.

The ongoing armed presence of the organization has raised fundamental questions within the party about whether the process is genuinely advancing. Officials warn that without visible progress on security, the initiative is becoming increasingly difficult to justify both politically and publicly.

“Any step taken without disarmament risks creating the perception of bargaining,” another AKP source said, noting that such an image could further damage public trust.

Öcalan’s prominence fuels backlash

Perhaps the most sensitive issue for AKP insiders is the growing emphasis on Abdullah Öcalan’s role and name in public discourse surrounding the process. Party officials say this rhetoric has caused serious unease not only among grassroots supporters but also within the party’s senior ranks.

Several insiders argue that highlighting Öcalan has increased the political cost of the initiative rather than advancing it. “The real counterpart of this process should be the complete end of terrorism,” one official said. “A narrative centered on individuals and figures weakens the process instead of strengthening it.”

This framing, critics within the AKP add, also clashes with the party’s long-standing stance on counterterrorism, amplifying doubts about the government’s broader strategy.

Uncertainty over next steps

As skepticism deepens, party insiders say expectations are declining while questions continue to grow. With no clear roadmap announced and mounting unease within the ruling party, how the government plans to recalibrate the İmralı process remains unclear.

For now, AKP officials warn that without concrete disarmament and a clearer security framework, the initiative risks losing both political and societal legitimacy.

Source:  Cumhuriyet

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