浪花直播

This transcript has been edited lightly for clarity. 

This call by Abdullah Ocalan means, at least right now, that PKK is unilaterally giving up its arms and looking to solve this issue on a more democratic and legal framework. 

Erdogan cannot be the president again after this term. After 2028, which is when the next presidential elections are scheduled for, will the end of Erdogan's presidency, under this system,  under this constitutional system that Turkey has right now.

But if Erdogan through various means, gets the support of Kurdish voters, or the Kurdish pro-Kurdish party, then in the Turkish parliament, that means that Erdogan can either change the constitution and run again as a new candidate or, call for snap elections and, since it allows him to run again as he won't have completed his current term, he is good to go.

What's happening in Syria obviously has played a very important part in this conversation. Ankara sees that the global dynamics are changing and it's trying to adjust to what's happening in the world, the Middle East and Syria specifically, but overall in the global political context. 

Last but not least, the Kurdish, obviously the Kurdish side of this story tells a slightly different story basically saying that, you know, Kurdish actors, whether it's PKK or all the other organizations, including political parties, have been fighting for this for so long for four decades for a peace or a recognition,  for constitutional recognition, but also societal recognition.

So the at this point, the argument is that these Kurds have come to a point where they have the power to negotiate with the Turkish government. 

In the past couple of years, Turkish government has increased its crackdown on opposition, including Kurdish, but as well as non-Kurdish, Turkish actors, opposition parties, the main opposition party too.

So Erdogan and his government is actually pushing the Kurds, basically saying that either you go along with this process or we're going to increase our pressure on you and we're going to put, your mayors or elected officials into prison, your intellectuals or journalists into prison. We're going to go after you through legal means, and so forth, or violent means or police brutality and so forth. 

So Kurdish political actors in Turkey don't have a lot of options.