The confidence that prevailed in Kurdish streets in the aftermath of the Kobane victory is now replaced by a growing sense of abandonment and misery, with nationalism its natural expression.
Unfortunately, the peace process has not produced trust regarding the longterm intentions of each side; on the contrary it has generated actions and attitudes that have contributed to greater distrust.
Long regarded as the biggest threat to Turkey’s political system and territorial integrity, the Kurds have emerged as the champion of Turkish democracy and protector of the country’s parliamentary regime.
As has been seen clearly during this campaign period, the harsh rhetoric used by the AK Party and the HDP regarding one another has brought the negotiations to the edge of a total freeze.
Kilicdaroglu not only promised to address the problems of the country’s 17 million poor, but tied the reforms to a timeline, not at all common in Turkish politics.
The recent protests are redefining Turkey's democratic culture. But what consequences will they have on the historic ongoing Kurdish peace process?
The opportunity for a peaceful settlement of Turkey's Kurdish question came as a surprise to many observers, announced as it was in the middle of a period of growing tension. But despite support by both parties, ambiguities that could undermine the whole process subsist.