Ozgur Ozel Leaves CHP to Form New Political Party

Former Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Ozgur Ozel announced his resignation from the party on July 21, 2026, and declared plans to establish a new political movement, potentially named Yeni Parti (New Party) or Istiklal (Independence). Speaking at a parliamentary group meeting in Ankara, Ozel described his departure as a necessity following a May court ruling that nullified the 2023 party congress results, which removed him from the chairmanship and reinstated Kemal Kilicdaroglu.

Ozel aims for the new organization to replace the CHP as Turkey's main opposition force in parliament. This transition depends on the defection of at least 68 of the CHP's 135 legislators. During his announcement, Ozel criticized the current CHP leadership for ignoring declining poll numbers, which he claimed have dropped to approximately 13-14%, and challenged Kilicdaroglu to a direct leadership vote among party members.

While Ozel and his critics characterize the court's ruling as a politically motivated coup and part of a broader legal crackdown—citing the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu—the Turkish government denied these claims. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan characterized the split as a strictly internal matter for the opposition, maintaining that the judiciary is independent.