Political parties are presenting their economic policies as the Nov. 1 parliamentary elections near. Still, the public is generally focused on the threat posed by terrorism and the parties' policies addressing the Kurdish issue.

Until a few years ago, the Republican People's Party (CHP) generally ignored the matter, presenting it as a problem reserved for the east and the southeast of the country. Now, for the first time the CHP identifies it as the Kurdish problem and professes its intention to present a policy on the matter. So, what is the CHP really saying? Actually, the party is saying nothing different from the past.

A while ago, senior CHP members held a press conference in Istanbul, explaining the party's stance on the issue. CHP Vice Chairman Sezgin Tanrıkulu expressed the need to address the issue from three angles. He said: "The first angle is the need for democracy, equal citizenship, freedom, justice and facing and coming to grips with the past. The second angle is the issue of clashes, terrorism and violence. The third angle is the economic development of the region. We have presented our policies for the solution of the problem based on these three angles. We also believe Parliament should take the initiative."

When one assesses the party's policy in detail, one sees that the CHP is actually proposing to delegate the matter to parliamentary commissions, as he went on to say: "Parliament will initially pass a law to establish a Societal Accord Commission. We will then establish a Joint Wise Men Delegation that will work under the commission. Thirdly, we will also establish a commission that will investigate the facts. These bodies will work in tandem and allow Parliament to resolve the problem."

For such steps to be taken, the CHP should at least conduct a political assessment of the past and present of the problem. His statements show that nothing like this is considered, nor are demands such as democratic autonomy or self-government addressed. The party also seems oblivious to the need for the PKK to be disarmed.

The CHP, which failed to support the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) during the reconciliation process and continues to accuse the government of giving in to the PKK's demands during the Oslo meetings, does not explain how and with whom the proposed commissions will be formed.

Still, the CHP properly identifying the problem a decade after the AK Party should be considered progress. It is hardly enough, however. Turkey has already progressed beyond the current CHP policy. The reconciliation process was a defining experience. Moreover, the issue has now become a regional and global matter.

The CHP seems to ignore such experiences and the transformation of the problem. Neither does it have any response to the PKK's political demands. CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, however, quizzically can claim he has the answer. But he does not have a response when asked how the problem will be resolved.

CHP deputy Özgür Özel's interview on CNNTürk a few days ago makes it clear that the party has no idea how to tackle the issue. In response to journalist Nedim Şener's insistent questions about what the party thought about the PKK's demand for self-governance or how it would disarm the terrorist group, Özel acted evasively and blamed the AK Party. Şener insisted on an answer but Özel could not respond. He could not answer because he is the representative of a party that actually created and then deepened the problem. This is the reason why the CHP could never become a serious challenger for government. It cannot create a future without facing its past.