Turkey’s Ozel forms new opposition party after court-ordered ouster
6 reported
According to a single-source report from dw.com, Turkish opposition leader Ozel has formed a new party called Yeni Parti, or "New Party," after being ousted from the Republican People's Party (CHP) by a court order in May 2026. The court declared the CHP's 2023 party convention null and void due to alleged irregularities, leading to Ozel's removal and the return of former leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu. Ozel had led the CHP to a historic victory in the March 2024 local elections, defeating the ruling AKP for the first time in 22 years. Following his ouster, 91 lawmakers joined his new party, making it the second largest in Turkey's 600-seat parliament. The source reports that a think tank poll shows around 30% of respondents would vote for or consider the new party, with another 19% undecided based on its program. Ozel faces challenges including establishing party structures in at least 41 provinces by the 2028 presidential election and limited access to funds.
What’s reported
Ozel was ousted as CHP head by a court order on May 24, 2026, after the court declared the 2023 party convention null and void due to alleged irregularities.
Under Ozel's leadership, the CHP defeated the ruling AKP in the March 2024 local elections, winning control of city councils in 14 major cities including Istanbul.
Ozel announced formation of Yeni Parti two months after his ouster, with 91 lawmakers joining, making it the second largest party behind the AKP.
The CHP, founded in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, is Turkey's oldest party, standing for separation of church and state, patriotism and republicanism.
A poll by think tank IstanPol found around 30% of respondents would vote for or consider the new party, with 19% undecided based on program, candidates and leaders.
Ozel's new party must establish structures in at least 41 of Turkey's 81 provinces by the 2028 presidential election to be eligible to run.
Key figures
Ozel: Former CHP leader, founder of Yeni Parti
Ekrem Imamoglu: Istanbul mayor, arrested alongside other mayors
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Turkish president
Kemal Kilicdaroglu: Former CHP leader who returned after Ozel's ouster
Seren Selvin Korkmaz: Director of Istanbul-based think tank IstanPol
Sources: dw.com
