The renewed Turkey-PKK conflict has shattered the illusion that Kurds can participate legitimately in Turkey’s political system

Clashes have taken place between Turkish authorities and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), with the violence escalating ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for 1 November 2015. Egemen Bezci and Nicholas Borroz write that the renewed hostilities, following a period of relative peace between the two sides, has undermined the notion that Kurds can legitimately participate in Turkey’s political system. They argue that with both sides becoming polarised, the conflict could ultimately lead to the fragmentation of the Turkish state.

News sources reported on the 22 September 2015 indeed indicated that two ministers from the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) resigned from their positions in the interim government on the 21 September 2015, protesting the government's handling of escalating violence in Turkey's predominantly Kurdish Southeast and warning that the security of the upcoming general election was at risk.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Remarks by President Donald Tusk after his meeting with Prime Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoğlu / Pro-Kurdish leader warns of Turkey being dragged into civil war http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-remarks-by-president-donald-tusk-after-his-meeting-with-prime-minister-of-turkey-ahmet-davutoglu-pro-kurdish-leader-warns-of-turkey-being-dragged-into-civil-war/

ESO: Background information: Turkish general election, November 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkish-general-election-1-november-2015/

Deutsche Welle, 22.09.15: Kurdish ministers quit Turkish government amid row over PKK rebels http://dw.com/p/1Gacv

Today's Zaman, 22.09.15: Ministers from opposition HDP resign from government http://www.todayszaman.com/national_ministers-from-opposition-hdp-resign-from-government_399754.html

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