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Ozel Quits CHP, Launches Yeni Parti, 80 MPs Expected

7/22/2026

26 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

After May court ruling annulled CHP’s 2023 congress, removed Ozgur Ozel as chair and reinstated Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Ozgur Ozel announced he will quit the CHP and form a party called Yeni Parti.
He said new party will become the main opposition by a margin in the Grand National Assembly.
Analysts expect about 80 of the CHP’s 135 MPs to defect, making new party the largest bloc in the 600-seat parliament.

History

Historical Context

The Justice and Development Party (AKP) was created on 14 August 2001 after the Virtue Party’s ban and captured 34 percent of the vote in the 2002 election, winning 363 of 550 seats and reshaping parliament. Özgür Özel’s split from the Republican People’s Party (CHP) to form Yeni Parti mirrors that 2002 realignment, raising the prospect of a similar opposition bloc that could challenge the AKP’s long-standing majority.

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Story summary

After May court ruling annulled CHP’s 2023 congress, removed Ozgur Ozel as chair and reinstated Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Ozgur Ozel announced he will quit the CHP and form a party called Yeni Parti.
He said new party will become the main opposition by a margin in the Grand National Assembly.
Analysts expect about 80 of the CHP’s 135 MPs to defect, making new party the largest bloc in the 600-seat parliament.

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