Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli convened at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on Tuesday to discuss significant domestic initiatives and regional concerns. Central to their discussions was Türkiye’s “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, a program aimed at eradicating decades-long terrorism in the country, alongside efforts to draft a new constitution.
The “terror-free Türkiye” initiative gained momentum in 2024 following Bahçeli’s call for imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan to urge the group to disarm. Öcalan responded in February 2025, spurring a disarmament process. As part of this initiative, Türkiye is contemplating legal measures that may include leniency for PKK members who have not been involved in terrorist activities.
Regional issues also featured prominently in the talks, particularly the Türkiye-Libya maritime boundary agreement, which has recently been approved by Libya’s House of Representatives. Other potential topics included the Mecca motion, expected to be presented to Türkiye’s Parliament, and the Badr Memorandum.
This meeting marked the fourth encounter between Erdoğan and Bahçeli this year, following previous meetings on January 21, April 30, and August 26. Their ongoing dialogue underscores the importance of these initiatives and regional dynamics in Türkiye’s current political landscape.