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Menteşe Mayor Gonca Köksal Aras leaves CHP, joins NEW Party
🇹🇷 Turkey /Elections & Politics

Menteşe Mayor Gonca Köksal Aras leaves CHP, joins NEW Party

From Cumhuriyet · () Turkish

Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Menteşe Mayor Gonca Köksal Aras has resigned from the Republican People's Party (CHP) and joined the NEW Party (YENİ Parti).
  • The move occurred during a ceremony attended by NEW Party officials in Muğla.
  • Aras cited a need to make a courageous decision for the future, expressing respect for her past within the CHP but indicating a shift in political direction.
  • NEW Party officials highlighted their party's growth and its foundation on popular support.

Menteşe Mayor Gonca Köksal Aras has officially left the Republican People's Party (CHP) to join the NEW Party (YENİ Parti). The transition was marked by a formal participation program held at the NEW Party's Muğla Provincial Directorate.

The event saw the presence of key NEW Party figures, including Deputy Chairman and Muğla Deputy Gizem Özcan, Muğla Deputies Süreyya Öneş Derici and Cumhur Uzun, Muğla Provincial Chairman Nail Kızıl, and Menteşe District Chairman Arzu Doğruel, alongside council members and party supporters. During the ceremony, Gizem Özcan spoke about the NEW Party's mission to expand its influence, emphasizing the party's resilience through difficult periods and its foundation built on the strength and support of the people.

There are moments in life, you know, when you reach a crossroads. With all the respect you have for the past, you must make a decision for the future. You must take a step with courage.

— Gonca Köksal ArasMenteşe Mayor Gonca Köksal Aras explaining her decision to leave the CHP and join the NEW Party.

Mayor Aras explained her decision, stating that after careful consideration and consultation with her colleagues, she felt it was time to make a courageous choice for the future. "There are moments in life, you know, when you reach a crossroads. With all the respect you have for the past, you must make a decision for the future. You must take a step with courage," she remarked. Aras acknowledged her long tenure and the roles she held within the CHP, but indicated that the current political climate necessitated a change.

She praised the NEW Party's leader, Özgür Özel, for his courage in embracing change, defending democracy, and fostering hope. Aras affirmed her commitment, along with that of the Menteşe municipal council members, to continue their political struggle under the NEW Party's banner, positioning the party as one of hope and a harbinger of better future days.

We will grow our party together in Muğla and in Turkey. Because, as I said, this party is the people's party. The NEW Party is the party of hope, the NEW Party is the party of good days to come.

— Gizem ÖzcanNEW Party Deputy Chairman Gizem Özcan speaking at the participation program.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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