Türköne: Demirtaş release is key to Turkey’s return to law

WISE NEWS PRESS / ISTANBUL, TÜRKİYE

Political scientist and author Mümtaz’er Türköne stated during a recent broadcast that the release of imprisoned politician Selahattin Demirtaş serves as the "keystone" for Turkey’s potential return to the rule of law; a move he deems necessary for the success of the current political normalization efforts.

Türköne evaluated the process that symbolically began on October 1, 2024, with MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli’s handshake with DEM Party members, noting that the current paradigm differs significantly from previous peace attempts between 2013 and 2015.

A strategic shift in state mind

According to Türköne, the current initiative is driven by a high-level "state mind" reacting to the total collapse and reconstruction of the Middle East, particularly the volatility in Syria. He distinguished this process from previous ones by highlighting that it is not driven by grassroots initiatives but by a strategic necessity to secure Turkey's long-term interests in a changing region. Türköne suggested that while a "state will" pushes for stability, the government often appears hesitant to take the concrete legal steps required to solidify this new direction.

Demirtaş as the legal turning point

Addressing the continued detention of Selahattin Demirtaş since November 2016, Türköne emphasized that legal normalization cannot occur without addressing high-profile political cases. He argued that the judicial system has been used as a tool to consolidate power, and reversing this requires a bold commitment to constitutional guarantees.

"The release of Selahattin Demirtaş is like pulling the keystone out of a building for those who have monopolized power," Türköne remarked. "If Demirtaş is released, it paves the way for others like Osman Kavala, effectively ending the use of the judiciary as a political stick."

Diverging interests within the ruling alliance

The analysis also shed light on the apparent friction between the components of the People’s Alliance. Türköne claimed that MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli is acting with a "state-centric" perspective focused on a 100-year strategic horizon, whereas the AK Party and the Presidency seem more concerned with short-term electoral gains and maintaining autocratic tools. Despite these internal contradictions, Türköne believes the process has reached a point of no return, as all major actors, including the PKK’s imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan, have signaled a commitment to the cessation of hostilities.

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