Deposed Turkish opposition leader plans new party | Elections News
Ozgur Ozel Plans New Political Party Following Removal from Republican People’s Party
By Reuters and The Associated Press
Published July 21, 2026
ISTANBUL — Ozgur Ozel, the former leader of Turkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), announced plans to establish a new political party after a court removed him from his position in May. The ruling is part of what opposition leaders claim is an ongoing crackdown by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ozel made his announcement during a speech in parliament on Tuesday, emphasizing that this new political endeavor represents “the hope of a new beginning” in the effort to challenge Erdogan’s long-standing leadership. The name of the new party has yet to be disclosed, but it is anticipated to draw significant voter and parliamentary support away from the CHP, which was founded over a century ago by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Recent months have seen the opposition facing profound legal challenges, with hundreds of elected officials and party members, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, imprisoned since late 2024 over alleged corruption within CHP-run municipalities.
“We are establishing our new party by taking the first step together with the deputies chosen by our nation,” Ozel stated, asserting that this initiative marks the beginning of a concerted effort to govern Turkey.
Ozel was stripped of his title as CHP chairman by an appeals court two months ago, which reinstated the former party leader, Kemal Kilicdaroglu. As many as 135 legislators out of the CHP’s total 600 in parliament are expected to defect to Ozel’s new party, which he claims will become the main opposition force.
Nonetheless, some critics caution that Ozel’s new party could inadvertently fragment the opposition, thereby consolidating Erdogan’s political power.
The Turkish government maintains that its legal actions are impartial. Erdogan dismissed allegations of interference, framing the court case leading to Ozel’s departure as an internal matter within the CHP.
Under Ozel’s leadership, the CHP experienced a notable victory in the 2024 municipal elections, winning key cities like Istanbul and Ankara. Analysts suggest that while Ozel’s new party could initially help Erdogan’s ruling AK Party by dividing opposition efforts, the true test will be whether it can galvanize a strong societal response to unite opposition forces effectively.
Murat Gezici, chairman of the polling firm Gezici, remarked, “This picture can only change if the new party can create a very strong societal response.” He added that, in the short- to medium-term, the political landscape appears to favor Erdogan and his party.
