The Huffington Post quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Aaron Stein on the political implications of Turkish conflict with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), in light of the coming elections:
The fragile and long-hoped-for peace process between the state and the PKK looks dead in the water as Turkey bombs the group in northern Iraq, where it is now based — alongside a bold new campaign to clamp down on the so-called Islamic State. But while Turkey says it’s reeling in terrorists both on the battlefield and in political positions, many critics insist it’s all a ploy to give the ruling AK Party the upper hand in possible early elections.
“[The AK Party] is sending a very powerful message,” said Aaron Stein, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. “This is already being viewed as nakedly political and in preparations for elections.”