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Turkish Parliament Opens New Legislative Year: “Return Home” Law, Right to Hope, and Prison Reforms on Agenda

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Summary: The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) will open its new legislative year on October 1 with a packed agenda, including reintegration measures for former militants under a “Return Home” law, MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli’s proposed “Right to Hope,” and potential reforms to Turkey’s prison and penal system. Broader judicial packages, traffic law amendments, and the 2026 budget marathon are also expected to dominate the parliamentary calendar.

Return of Parliament After Summer Recess

The Turkish Grand National Assembly, which recessed on July 20, will reconvene on October 1 at 2:00 p.m. for a special session marking the start of its 28th term, fourth legislative year.

This year’s work will unfold against the backdrop of the PKK’s symbolic disarmament on July 11 and the creation of the National Solidarity, Brotherhood and Democracy Commission. The body’s top priority will be legal reforms to reintegrate former members of terrorist organizations back into society.

Central to this discussion are three initiatives:

  • A “Return Home” law for former militants

  • MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli’s proposed “Right to Hope” for prisoners

  • New amendments to Turkey’s penal execution system

Judicial and Social Reform Packages

Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç has announced the government will present the 11th Judicial Package to parliament during this session. The draft includes:

  • Tougher penalties for crimes involving minors

  • New measures against online fraud and illegal betting

  • Expanded sanctions for traffic violations

On the family law front, a new family mediation system is expected to be introduced in divorce cases. This aims to reduce conflict, speed up proceedings, and separate compensation, alimony, and property-sharing cases into distinct tracks.

Traffic Penalties Back on the Table

Amendments to the Highway Traffic Law were adopted last year, but some provisions—particularly around speed radars—stalled in the General Assembly.

In the new legislative year, parliament will debate stricter penalties for:

  • Drunk driving

  • Running red lights and lane violations

  • Using cell phones while driving

  • Seatbelt and helmet violations

Lawmakers are considering both higher administrative fines and potential prison sentences for repeat offenses.

The Budget Marathon

As always, the government’s 2026 Central Government Budget Proposal will dominate the parliamentary calendar.

  • Submission: First half of October

  • Budget Committee: Late October to late November

  • General Assembly: December 2025

DEM Party: “Parliament Must Act on Peace Laws”

DEM Party Co-Chair Tuncer Bakırhan called on parliament to move beyond listening sessions and adopt concrete “peace laws.”

Speaking in Diyarbakır after meeting with bar associations and civil society groups, Bakırhan stressed the importance of shifting Turkey’s political process from a security-focused framework to one centered on dialogue and negotiation.

“It has been one year since this process began,” Bakırhan said. “The commission has heard from many social actors, but now we need a roadmap and new, inclusive legislation. Parliament must prioritize transitional laws, reforms to the Anti-Terror Law, Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, as well as local governance reforms and changes to prison law.”

He also referenced Bahçeli’s earlier remarks on the “Right to Hope” for long-term prisoners, urging steps to put the principle into practice.

A Pivotal Legislative Year

The opening of parliament comes at a critical moment, with the ruling coalition balancing nationalist demands from the MHP and reformist pressures tied to Turkey’s fragile peace process.

The way lawmakers handle sensitive issues—particularly prisoner rights, reintegration of former militants, and judicial reforms—could shape the trajectory of Turkey’s democratic and social landscape well beyond 2025.

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