Turkey’s ousted opposition leader says he is forming new party to take on Erdogan

Turkey’s former opposition leader, Ozgur Ozel, announced plans to form a new political party on Tuesday, signaling a major shift in the country’s political landscape following his ouster from the Republican People’s Party (CHP). Ozel made the declaration during a farewell address to lawmakers at the CHP’s weekly parliamentary group meeting, stating that the new party would emerge as the primary opposition force in the Grand National Assembly once formal procedures were completed. Ozel, who led the CHP for nearly three years, described the moment as a “historic crossroads” for Turkey. He expressed confidence that the new party would gain significant support, asserting that it would surpass the CHP in parliamentary representation. His remarks were met with a standing ovation from fellow lawmakers. The formation of the new party comes amid a deepening crisis for the CHP, which has faced mounting challenges since a controversial court ruling in May removed Ozel from his leadership position and reinstated his predecessor, Kemal Kilicdaroglu. The court’s decision to annul the CHP’s November 2023 leadership election stemmed from allegations of vote-buying. Critics argue that the ruling represents another effort by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to eliminate political rivals. The move has raised concerns about the erosion of democratic principles and the rule of law in Turkey. Ozel is expected to submit an application to the interior ministry soon to officially establish the new party, though he has not yet disclosed specific details about its name or structure. However, media reports suggest the party could be named “Yeni Parti” (“New Party”), with its founding council likely composed mainly of current CHP members of parliament. The goal of the new party is to become Turkey’s second-largest parliamentary group, thereby positioning itself as the main opposition to Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). To achieve this, the new entity would need to attract at least 68 of the CHP’s 135 lawmakers. Political analysts estimate that between 83 and 85 CHP legislators are prepared to join the new faction. If this occurs, the CHP would be reduced to approximately 50 seats, placing it in fourth place behind the pro-Kurdish People’s Democracy Party (DEM), which currently holds 56 seats. Ozel reiterated his commitment to the nation in a message posted on social media, stating, “We have determined our direction with the nation. May our path be clear! The people will be the ones who both own and drive forward this path.” This sentiment reflects the broader context of Ozel’s tenure as CHP leader, during which the party achieved notable success in local elections, significantly challenging Erdogan’s AKP. However, the CHP has since encountered increasing scrutiny, with hundreds of its officials arrested under investigations into alleged corruption. Among those detained was Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, whose arrest sparked widespread public discontent and large-scale protests organized by Ozel. These demonstrations bolstered the CHP’s popularity, despite the subsequent legal pressures facing the party. As of now, 27 CHP mayors remain incarcerated on charges related to graft offenses. Following Imamoglu’s detention, Ozel played a pivotal role in rallying these protests, which marked some of the largest in Turkey in recent decades. Ozel has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court against the May 21 ruling that removed him from the CHP leadership. However, the process was delayed by administrative hurdles, causing the case to be heard just hours before the court’s summer recess. Although Ozel initially indicated he would await the appeal’s outcome, the delay has rendered such an expectation increasingly improbable. With the formation of his new party, Ozel aims to continue his challenge to Erdogan’s administration, seeking to consolidate support among voters disillusioned with the current political climate.