The bill, which aims to bring a 50-year conflict to a legal conclusion, sparked heated debates in the General Assembly of the Parliament. Following the vote, the bill was passed and became law.
Known to the public as the “Framework Law,” the “Draft Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration”—which regulates the PKK’s disarmament and the legal status of PKK members—was passed by Parliament following a vote and became law. In the vote, which was conducted via electronic voting, 562 members of parliament cast their votes, with 468 voting in favor, 88 against, and 6 abstaining. Thus, the “Draft Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration” passed the General Assembly of the Parliament and became law.
The General Assembly adjourned following the vote.
Debates on the legislation, known to the public as the “Framework Law,” began at 11:00 a.m.
In the General Assembly, the deputy group leaders of the various parties made statements regarding the bill. Bülent Kaya spoke on behalf of Yeni Yol, Turhan Çömez on behalf of the İYİ Party, Rahmi Aşkın Türeli on behalf of the CHP, Erkan Akçay on behalf of the MHP, Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit on behalf of the DEM Party, Murat Emir on behalf of the Yeni Party, and Abdulhamit Gül on behalf of the AKP.
The 12-article bill is expected to establish the legal framework for the new resolution process.
The “Draft Law on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integration”—known to the public as the “Framework Law”—which regulates the PKK’s disarmament and the legal status of PKK members, was adopted by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) Plenary following intense debates, and deliberations on its articles have begun.
In an electronic vote held in the General Assembly, the decision to proceed with the bill’s articles passed with 269 “Yes” votes against 28 “No” votes. While the ruling coalition (AKP and MHP) described the bill as “a historic state policy for a Turkey free of terrorism,” the İYİ Party strongly opposed it. The YENİ Party and the CHP, which announced they would vote “Yes” on the bill, noted that the process must be supported by steps toward democratization and justice. Thirty-three members of the YENİ Party parliamentary group declared they would vote “No.”
YENİ Party MPs who announced they will vote “No”
1. İzzet Akbulut
2. Hasan Öztürk
3. Sibel Suiçmez
4 Cemal Enginyurt
5 Süreyya Öneş Derici
6 Deniz Yavuzyılmaz
7 İbrahim Aslan
8 Hikmet Yalım Halıcı
9 Cumhur Uzun
10 Eylem Ertuğ Eryılmaz
11 Murat Çan
12 Servet Mullaoğlu
13 Salih Uzun
14 Uğur Bayraktutan
15 Şeref Arpacı
16 Murat Bakan
17 Seyit Torun
18 Mahmut Tanal
19 Fethi Açıkel
20 Elvan Işık Gezmiş
21 Melih Meriç
22 İsmail Atakan Ünver
23 Mehmet Tahtasız
24 Ümit Özlale
25 Mustafa Erdem
26 Ayşe Sibel Yanıkömeroğlu
27 Reşat Karagöz
28 Ayhan Barut
29 Barış Karadeniz
30 Fahri Özkan
31 Deniz Yücel
32 Seda Kaya Ösen
33 Ednan Arslan
Ekrem İmamoğlu, the detained Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB) Mayor, issued a statement through his lawyers regarding the “framework law.” Noting that Turkey is at “one of the most significant turning points in its history,” İmamoğlu said that peace, tranquility, brotherhood, democracy, and the rule of law must be strengthened.
Imamoğlu expressed his support for the decision made by Özgür Özel, Chairman of the New Party, during this process. Stating that he believes in “the new political path he has opened, his great struggle, and his leadership,” Imamoğlu said he supports “the exceptional resolve he has demonstrated through all his warnings.”
Imamoğlu said, “I stand behind the decision he made today.”
The DEM Party, meanwhile, described the law as “the first step toward resolving the conflict.”
Ş. Can Atalay, the elected MP for Hatay, sent a message from Silivri Prison emphasizing the importance of a nonviolent political environment, while Tunç Soyer noted that the law is a key to “ending the era of blood and tears.”
Chronology of the Day
What had happened?
The bill had been debated for 18 hours in the Turkish Grand National Assembly’s Justice Committee.
The bill bears the signatures of 367 members of parliament, including representatives from the AKP, CHP, MHP, DEM Party, HÜDA PAR, the New Path Group, and the DSP.
During the discussions, which were not without controversy, the AKP and MHP argued that the bill was the “product of a historic consensus” and did not constitute an “amnesty.”
The CHP and the New Party, however, emphasized that the process lacked a democratic dimension. The New Path Group, meanwhile, stated that the measure constituted a “conditional general amnesty.”
Seat distribution in Parliament
AKP 277, New Party 91, DEM Party 56, MHP 46, CHP 45, Good Party 29, New Path Party 20, HÜDA PAR 4, Prosperity Party 4, TİP 3, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) 2, EMEP 2, Felicity Party, Democratic Left Party, and Democratic Party each hold 1 seat. Ten members of Parliament are independents.
