Ozgur Ozel, the former chairman of Turkey's main opposition CHP party, along with 90 other defecting lawmakers, officially established the New Party last week after being ousted from the CHP leadership.
Speaking at the launch event, Ozel called the new political project a “hope for a new beginning” in efforts to unseat President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been in power for over 20 years. He expressed hope that the party would “benefit the country, the nation, the party, and all of us.”
Reasons for forming the New Party
Ozel's decision to resign and announce the formation of a new party stemmed from a May 21 court ruling that annulled the previous CHP congress where he was elected chairman. The court cited allegations of voter fraud to reinstate his predecessor, Kemal Kilicdaroglu.
Ozel and his supporters view this as judicial interference in internal party affairs. Days after the ruling, police entered CHP headquarters to enforce the decision, and Kilicdaroglu's administration began disciplinary proceedings against those linked to Ozel.
The Turkish government denies allegations of judicial interference, insisting that the lawsuit leading to Ozel's ouster is merely an internal CHP dispute and that the ruling demonstrates the functioning of democratic institutions and the rule of law.
Previous developments
Under Ozel's leadership, the CHP achieved major victories in major cities during the 2024 local elections, including Istanbul and Ankara, dealing the worst blow to Erdogan's AK party in over two decades.
However, criminal investigations, primarily related to corruption allegations in municipalities managed by the CHP, have led to the arrest of dozens of elected officials and party members, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. The opposition calls this a government crackdown.
The government, in contrast, rejects these claims, stating that Turkey's judiciary is independent and that the allegations and investigations are based on corruption and illegal activities by the opposition.
Imamoglu, Erdogan's main political rival, is currently in pretrial detention on corruption charges he denies. His arrest has sparked large protests nationwide.
What comes next
The AK party currently holds the largest number of seats in the 600-member parliament, with 277 lawmakers. Following the defection of 91 lawmakers, the CHP now has only 44 seats.
The New Party is expected to attract a significant share of CHP voters, creating a new challenge for Erdogan. However, a broader split within the opposition could strengthen the president's chances of extending his 23-year rule in this NATO member and regional military power.
Speaking to reporters after the New Party's first meeting in the capital Ankara, Ozel said he would support Imamoglu as the presidential candidate in the next election. He emphasized: “Imamoglu was not elected as presidential candidate by a single political party, but by more than 15 million people.”
