A month has passed since Abdullah Öcalan’s historic call on 27 February and the PKK’s announcement of a ceasefire on 1 March, yet the government has not taken any concrete steps. At the same time, there has been no change in Öcalan’s conditions in Imralı prison.

ANF spoke with Professor Dr. Cengiz Aktar from Akdeniz University about the developments in Syria as well as the ongoing debate in Turkey over the peace process and the possibility of renewed dialogue.

Cengiz Aktar welcomed the fact that, despite all the turmoil, the situation in Syria has not escalated into a full-blown civil war. He noted that the statements made by the Damascus regime were rejected by both the Druze and Kurdish communities. Describing the developments as a 'state of chaos,' Aktar said that Turkey is seeking to establish military outposts in the region. However, Israel, backed by the power of the United States, has opposed this plan. He added that Israel does not want Turkey to maintain a permanent presence in Syria. According to Aktar, it remains unclear who holds more influence over the administration led by Ahmed al-Sharaa (Al-Jolani).

The government has shown no political will

Aktar stated that the developments in Syria are closely connected to the ongoing debates in Turkey regarding the peace process. Recalling recent remarks from the ruling bloc urging people to "stop calling it a process," he argued that the government lacks a coherent plan. He drew attention to a recent statement by Besê Hozat, Co-Chair of the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) Executive Council, regarding the state of the discussions. Aktar said: "The government is saying it will not give anything—and, in fact, it has given nothing. Kandil knows exactly what that means. Besê Hozat’s latest statement was very clear and direct." He added that the government has shown no willingness to engage with the demands of the Kurdish people.

The government does not know what it wants to do

Cengiz Aktar addressed the possibility of the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, stating that the government appears uncertain about its own intentions and is acting in a state of confusion. Aktar said, ‘‘Authoritarian and entirely non-transparent regimes often take certain actions, and it falls to us—those who study political science—to try to interpret them and assign some logic to what they do. But I am not sure. I genuinely doubt whether they fully know what they want to do.’’  He added that the situation unfolding in Istanbul reflects a broader atmosphere of chaos.

Erdoğan and Bahceli have made a pact of fate

Cengiz Aktar dismissed the idea of any internal rift between President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli. He argued that the two have forged a political alliance bound by shared interests and a mutual dependence on staying in power. Aktar said, “I do not think they have any intention of leaving office through elections. In fact, I believe it would not even be possible for them to step down. This is a criminal network. There are virtually no illegal or unconstitutional actions they have not committed, especially since 2013. If they lose power, they would end up behind bars that very night. They have torn the constitution and the law to shreds—and the corruption and theft are another matter altogether.”

The government must take action

At this stage, Cengiz Aktar stressed that it is the government’s responsibility to take the next step. He remarked: "The government is not acting because its hands are tied; it has already admitted that it cannot do anything. They talk about a ‘Turkey without terrorism’—a vague and undefined appeal. They even suggested that the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) hold its congress in Muş. I sense an astonishing level of incompetence, coupled with a distinctly outdated and provincial mentality."

We cannot speak of a unified opposition

When asked what the opposition should do under these circumstances, Aktar pointed to a troubling trend and said: "There is a clear anti-Kurdish sentiment in some of the rallies and demonstrations held in support of Imamoğlu. Not all, of course—but there are factions openly expressing hostility toward Kurds. So, it is difficult to speak of a unified opposition in Turkey.” Aktar added that the government’s very foundations are anti-democratic, making it impossible for such a regime to take any genuine steps grounded in human rights or democracy."