Turkish Deposed Opposition Leader Plans to Create a New Party to Take on Erdogan

Ozgur Ozel, recently removed as the leader of Türkiye's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), announced Tuesday his intention to establish a new political party. This move signals a direct challenge to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's long-standing rule. Ozel's ouster, orchestrated through a court order, has been widely condemned by critics as a politically motivated maneuver aimed at weakening the opposition. The subsequent reinstatement of the party's former and less popular leader, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, further fueled outrage among many CHP supporters.

Addressing CHP lawmakers and officials, Ozel declared, “We are establishing our new party by taking the first step together with the deputies chosen by our nation. These are the determined steps of a march toward governing Türkiye.” The new political movement, reportedly to be named Yeni Parti (New Party), is expected to launch formally later this week. A significant number of the CHP's 135 legislators are anticipated to defect and join Ozel's new party, which he confidently stated would become the parliament's main opposition "by a wide margin."

An appeals court in May invalidated a 2023 vote that had appointed Ozel as CHP chair, citing alleged irregularities and reinstating Kilicdaroglu. Ozel, 51, had taken over from the 77-year-old Kilicdaroglu after a period where many analysts deemed the opposition ineffective against Erdogan. Ozel characterized the court's decision as a "legal attack" on the CHP. This development occurs amidst ongoing criminal investigations targeting CHP officials nationwide, often related to alleged corruption in municipalities led by the party. Notable figures like Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, considered a strong potential challenger to Erdogan, face multiple cases that could lead to lengthy prison sentences.

The Turkish government maintains that its courts operate impartially, independent of political influence. President Erdogan, who has governed Türkiye for over two decades, has denied government intervention in the judiciary, framing the legal action against Ozel as an internal CHP dispute. Despite these challenges, under Ozel's previous leadership, the CHP achieved a notable success in the 2024 municipal elections, capturing several key cities, including Istanbul and Ankara, from Erdogan's ruling party.

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We are establishing our new party by taking the first step together with the deputies chosen by our nation. These are the determined steps of a march toward governing Türkiye.