Türkiye Publishes Peace Process Law in Official Gazette
The law enters force after winning 467 votes in Parliament, requiring verification of PKK disarmament before further measures can proceed.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Türkiye's new framework law for the peace process has been published in the country's Official Gazette and entered into force, marking a formal transition from parliamentary approval to implementation of legislation linked to the disarmament and dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
The "Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Integrity" law, approved by the Turkish Parliament on Aug. 10 with 467 votes, establishes the legal framework for the next phase of the process.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed the law's enactment, expressing hope that it would contribute to stability and prosperity in Türkiye.
In a message marking the law's publication, Erdoğan thanked those involved in preparing the legislation and praised political parties that adopted what he described as a constructive approach. He characterized the parliamentary process as an example of national unity aimed at building a peaceful and stable future.
The publication of the law is significant because it moves the initiative beyond political declarations and into a formal legal mechanism.
Under the legislation, security agencies must first establish that the PKK and organizations affiliated with it have ended their activities and surrendered their weapons and ammunition before further stages of the process can be implemented.
The law therefore links its legal provisions to a process of verification, making confirmation of disarmament a central condition for subsequent measures.
The legislation specifically addresses the legal status of PKK members and supporters who comply with the disarmament process. It does not amount to a blanket amnesty and contains conditions governing eligibility under the framework.
The latest step follows nearly two years of renewed political efforts to resolve Türkiye's decades-long conflict with the PKK.
The process gained momentum in October 2024, when MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli proposed that jailed PKK founder Abdullah Öcalan address Parliament and call for the organization's dissolution.
In February 2025, Öcalan issued an appeal urging the PKK to end its armed struggle and pursue a political path. Several months later, PKK members publicly destroyed or burned weapons in a symbolic step toward ending the armed conflict.
The framework law was drafted with support from President Erdoğan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) and received backing from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party).
The legislation now places greater emphasis on implementation, including the verification of weapons surrender and organizational dissolution.
For the government, the next phase will test whether the parliamentary consensus behind the law can be translated into concrete steps on the ground.
For Kurdish political actors, attention is expected to focus on how the framework is applied, its impact on prisoners and former PKK members, and whether the process eventually expands beyond disarmament into broader political and democratic reforms.