Current Developments in the Kurdish Issue

SUMMARY

The section includes the follow-up of social reactions, perceptions, and expectations regarding the solution process, officially called “Turkey without Terror”, initiated by the government:

• How did you feel when you heard the news about Abdullah Öcalan's call to lay down arms?
• Considering the developments in recent months, do you think that the initiative initiated by the government will solve the Kurdish problem?
• To what extent do you think the statement “The solution process initiated by the government will make a great contribution to the democratization of Turkey” is true or false?

Compared to the Resolution Process implemented between 2009 and 2015, society is approaching the process implemented over the last four months with greater caution. Three out of every ten people stated that they felt nothing when they heard Öcalan's call for disarmament. Although the process began with calls from Devlet Bahçeli, MHP voters stated that they felt the most anger and anxiety. The group with the highest concentration of those stating they welcomed it with joy is the DEM Party electorate. The two groups whose attitudes have changed the most since the first Solution Process are MHP and DEM Party voters. While MHP voters believe more strongly than before that this process will bring a solution, the situation is the exact opposite for DEM Party voters. Those who think the process will not contribute to democratization outnumber those who think it will. On this specific issue, DEM Party voters are more hopeful than the Kurdish demographic in general.