Erdoğan welcomes broad backing for ‘terror-free Türkiye’ bill

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has welcomed the submission of legislation establishing a legal framework for the government’s “terror-free Türkiye” initiative, saying it aims to permanently eliminate the threat of terrorism and reinforce national unity.

The Bill on Strengthening National Solidarity and Social Cohesion was submitted to parliament on Aug. 5 with the signatures of nearly 360 lawmakers following consultations among ruling and opposition parties.

“Following extensive consultations, the bill was submitted to parliament with broad consensus reflecting our nation’s determination to achieve a lasting resolution,” Erdoğan said in a social media post.

He said the proposal sought to strengthen peace and stability in Türkiye and the wider region.

Erdoğan thanked Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, political party groups and lawmakers who contributed to its preparation.

Following a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) Central Decision and Executive Board, party spokesman Ömer Çelik said the submission marked “the most important stage” of a two-year process.

Çelik said Erdoğan had issued instructions on the political and institutional steps needed to carry the process forward, including coordination among state institutions.

“The ultimate owner of this process is Türkiye’s 86 million citizens,” Çelik said, adding that removing terrorism from the country’s agenda would create greater scope for democratic reforms.

Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş also said the proposal had brought political groups with differing views together around a shared objective and would strengthen national unity and social cohesion.

Parliament’s Justice Commission is scheduled to begin deliberations on the bill on Aug. 7.