New Party Leader Özel: Public Demanded Our Formation, CHP Leadership Unelected

Özgür Özel, the leader of the newly established YENİ Parti, has spoken for the first time about the process of forming his party after leaving the Republican People's Party (CHP). Özel described a situation where the public's demand for change was the primary driver behind the party's creation.

“

The nation pushed us into the YENİ Parti process from our backs. That is, the nation founded the party.

"The nation pushed us into the YENİ Parti process from our backs. That is, the nation founded the party," Özel stated in an interview with Saygı Öztürk of Sözcü newspaper. He explained that he and other CHP politicians initially intended to remain within the CHP and pursue legal avenues after a court decision led to Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's "appointment" as party leader. However, he asserted that the public's sentiment of "enough is enough" compelled them to act.

“

The nation said 'enough is enough'. At a certain point, it was not possible to break this nation's hopes for power.

Özel emphasized that the current CHP leadership, which he claims was not elected by the party membership, is not a political entity they will engage with. "We cannot establish a political dialogue with them," he said. "Politics is done with elected officials. We will not engage with a leadership appointed by court decision, whether positively or negatively."

“

Currently, the CHP is run by unelected individuals. If there were an elected leadership in the CHP, it would be our former party. But our party is not the current CHP; the current CHP is run by unelected individuals. Therefore, it is not possible for us to establish a political dialogue with them.

The YENİ Parti's formation is described as a response to the public's desire for a new political alternative. Özel mentioned that he has visited 22 provinces in the past two months, gathering support and laying the groundwork for the party's political establishment, which he expects to solidify over the next two months. He noted that the party's technical establishment is complete, with modest district offices, such as a two-container building in Hatay, already being set up across Turkey.

“

Politics is done with elected officials. We will not engage with a leadership appointed by court decision, whether positively or negatively.