Peace and Democracy Party

The country's intelligence service could begin meetings with Abdullah Öcalan of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), but the government should not accept the jailed leader as a counterpart in steps to revive the stalled "resolution" process aiming to end Turkey's three-decade long PKK conflict, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has said.

The co-mayor of Turkey's eastern province of Van, Bekir Kaya, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Jan. 4 on charges of "being a member of terrorist organization," along with 12 other defendants jailed in the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) case.

The 13 defendants were all given jail terms between seven and 15 years.

A group of former lawmakers from the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) have staged a sit-in at parliament, protesting against the violence and curfews imposed on the southeastern towns of Cizre and Silopi.

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirta? has claimed that President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an was "only partially briefed" about the Kurdish peace process while it was still ongoing, with government officials reporting details to him "only in a way that he would enjoy."

An indictment has been prepared against a provincial mayor on charges of "promoting terrorism on social media," according to a court statement.

'Ethnicity and Elections in Turkey: Party Politics and the Mobilization of Swing Voters' by Gül Ar?kan Akda? (Routledge, 282 pages)

Four mayors in southeastern Turkey have been arrested for announcing their autonomy from Ankara in response to violent attacks by state forces during battles between the military and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK). 

It might appear lunacy to claim the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its mastermind, President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, are pulling the country into a calamity in hopes of fomenting nationalism and sweeping back to a sufficient electoral majority to form a single party government. This is a very wild and horrible hypothesis. It cannot be true. It should not be true.

Turkey supposedly gave up its reluctance to fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and joined the anti-ISIL coalition, but in reality, the Turkish government started military operations against both ISIL and the Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK) at the same time. 

All four parties represented in Turkish parliament, except the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), have increased the number of their women deputies, thus labeling the 25th term of parliament as one with the highest number of women deputies in Turkey's history of democracy.