Türkiye: Former opposition leader Ozel announces the creation of a new party

Removed from the leadership of the CHP by court decision last May, Özgür Özel announced on Tuesday before more than 80 parliamentarians his resignation from the Republican People's Party and his intention to found a new political formation.

It was before a room full of supporters that Özgür Özel addressed the Turkish parliament. "Today, we are on the verge of a sad farewell that has become inevitable and whose time has come. However, we wish to share with the people the hope of a new beginning," he told the CHP members, who gave him a standing ovation.

The future party is expected to be called "Yeni Parti" ("New Party"). Özel must submit an application for registration to the Ministry of the Interior. In his own words, the party will become "the main opposition force in the Grand National Assembly by a wide margin" once the procedures are completed.

Özel was removed from the CHP chairmanship by court order in May, a decision that simultaneously reinstated former leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu as interim head. The two men failed to agree on a lasting solution to the leadership crisis, deepening a rift within the party.

His supporters see this legal action as a maneuver by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to weaken the opposition. The government, for its part, maintains that Turkish courts operate independently.

Özel enjoys strong support among CHP parliamentarians, and many are expected to follow him in his new political endeavor. His resignation comes amid increased legal pressure on CHP-run municipalities, particularly through the multiple prosecutions of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who has been imprisoned since March of last year and faces sentences of up to several decades.

Özel had played a central role in mobilizing the largest street protests in Turkey in over a decade, following Imamoglu's arrest. Under his leadership, the CHP had also made significant gains in the 2024 municipal elections, consolidating its hold on Istanbul and Ankara.