ANKARA (Realist English). On July 21, Ozgur Ozel, who was removed from his post as chairman of Turkey’s main opposition party — the Republican People’s Party (CHP) — announced his departure from the party and his intention to found a new political force.
As the politician himself stated, the new party will become the main opposition force in the country “by a large margin” and intends to challenge President Recep Erdogan in the 2028 elections.
Judicial Blow to the Opposition
The key event that led to the split was a decision by the appeals court in May 2026. The court annulled the results of the CHP congress held in November 2023, at which Ozel had defeated the long‑time party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. The formal grounds for the court’s decision were alleged violations related to the bribery of delegates.
As a result, Ozel was removed from leadership, and party management was temporarily handed over to 77‑year‑old Kilicdaroglu, who had led the CHP for 13 years and lost to Erdogan in the 2023 presidential elections. Critics call this decision a “politically motivated” move aimed at weakening the opposition.
Ozel himself described the events as a “black day” in the history of Turkish democracy and the court’s decision as a “judicial coup.” Erdogan, for his part, denies accusations of interfering in the judicial system, calling the situation an “internal dispute” within the CHP.
Systemic Pressure on the Opposition
The court ruling was only part of a broader campaign of pressure on the opposition that has lasted nearly two years.
Key events:
- Arrest of Istanbul mayor. In March 2025, Ekrem Imamoglu — the mayor of Istanbul and Erdogan’s main political rival — was taken into custody. He has been in prison for over a year and faces multiple criminal cases that could threaten him with decades of imprisonment. In addition, his university diploma was annulled, which under Turkish law disqualifies him from running for president.
- Mass arrests. Hundreds of CHP members and officials have been detained or placed under investigation on corruption and other charges, which the party rejects as politically motivated.
- Defections to the ruling party. Some opposition politicians have left the CHP, and 16 MPs have switched to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), strengthening its position in parliament.
New Party: “Yeni Parti”?
Ozel announced that the new party would be established this week. According to media reports, it will likely be named “Yeni Parti” (New Party).
However, some sources also mention the name “Istiklal” (Independence).
Key statements by Ozel:
- The new party will continue to uphold the principles of social democracy and the “Six Arrows” — the ideological foundations laid by the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
- The party’s doors are open to all democrats ready to end the current political order.
- The goal is to come to power and “end this political order.”
In his farewell speech to the CHP parliamentary group, Ozel said: “Today we stand on the brink of a sorrowful farewell that has become inevitable and whose time has come. However, we want to share with the people the hope of a new beginning.”
Consequences for the Opposition and Forecasts
Ozel’s decision threatens a historic split in Turkey’s main opposition force. It is expected that the majority of the CHP’s 135 MPs in the 600‑seat parliament will follow Ozel into the new party. This could make the new political force the largest opposition party in parliament.
As Reuters notes, the CHP has 135 seats, and most of them are expected to move to Ozel’s new party. This means that the CHP, founded by Ataturk over a century ago, may lose its status as the main opposition force.
However, as analysts warn, the opposition split could play into Erdogan’s hands, as he continues to strengthen his position after his victory in the 2024 local elections. The next presidential elections are scheduled for 2028, and to compete with the incumbent president, the opposition will need to consolidate — a question that remains open after the split.
Ozel has already submitted an application to register the new party with the Interior Ministry, and the formal launch is expected on July 27. In the coming days, it will become clear how many MPs will follow the former CHP leader and whether the new party can indeed become the “main opposition force,” as its founder promises.
