Dissolution Of Kurdistan Workers’ Party

In its declaration of 12 May 2025, the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) announced its willingness to disband — a historic step in the decades-long conflict. However, the Turkish government is focusing primarily on the technical aspects of disarmament and the scope of the declaration. Finding a political solution to the Kurdish conflict does not appear to be a priority. This narrow view is leading to a growing rift between the government and the opposition. The Kurdish DEM party (Kurdistan Democratic Party), which has largely supported the process, links it to expectations of democratisation. The CHP (Republican People’s Party), as the largest opposition party, supports many of the Kurdish reform demands. At the same time, it is suspicious that the process is a cover for plans to amend the constitution, which would enable President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to run for office again.