Turkey’s opposition leader Özgür Özel has left the historic Republican People’s Party (CHP) — the country’s oldest secular, social-democratic party, founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk — to launch a new political movement, he announced on 24 July 2026. Özel, who had served as CHP leader since November 2023 and led the official opposition in parliament, was removed from the party in May following a court ruling and replaced by former CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
New Party Emerges as Largest Parliamentary Force
According to Özel’s inner circle, 91 members of parliament have resigned from the CHP to join the founding committee of Yeni Parti (“New Party”), making it the largest bloc in Turkey’s Grand National Assembly. Özel formally stepped down from the CHP after signing the founding documents of the new party.
The departure marks a major realignment in Turkish politics. The CHP’s parliamentary representation has now shrunk to around 40 MPs — a dramatic reduction that underscores deep internal fractures within the main opposition force.
Political Context and Electoral Implications
Özel has accused the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, of orchestrating his removal to weaken opposition unity ahead of the scheduled 2028 general elections. He claimed the AKP no longer believes it can win fair and democratic elections — and that the Turkish public has turned away from the party.
“The AKP knows it can no longer win democratic elections. It knows the Turkish people no longer want it,” Özel stated.