Turkey’s opposition leader Ozgur Ozel to leave CHP, form new party to challenge Erdogan

Turkey's opposition leader, Ozgur Ozel, has announced plans to resign from the Republican People's Party (CHP) and establish a new political movement, marking a significant shift in the country's opposition landscape amid mounting pressure on critics of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Ozel made the announcement on Tuesday during an address to lawmakers, describing the decision as the beginning of a fresh political chapter rather than a retreat in the face of legal and political challenges.

"Today, we are on the brink of a sad farewell that has become inevitable and whose time has come. However, we would like to share with the people that we carry the hope of a new beginning," Ozel told more than 80 CHP legislators.

His departure follows a court ruling in May that nullified the CHP's 2023 party congress over alleged irregularities, stripping Ozel of the chairmanship and reinstating former party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, who was defeated by Erdogan in Turkey's 2023 presidential election.

The split is expected to reshape Turkey's main opposition bloc, with many CHP lawmakers and supporters anticipated to join Ozel's yet-to-be-named political party.

Ozel and other critics have condemned the court's decision as politically motivated, arguing it forms part of a broader campaign against the opposition. They have described the ruling as a "coup" against the party, pointing to a wider legal crackdown that has targeted senior opposition figures, including Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, widely regarded as Erdogan's strongest political challenger.

The Turkish government has consistently rejected allegations of political interference, maintaining that the country's judiciary operates independently.

The ongoing tensions have raised concerns among observers about the state of democracy and the rule of law in Turkey, while also contributing to uncertainty in the country's financial markets.

Political analysts say the latest divisions within the opposition could strengthen Erdogan's position ahead of the next general election, currently scheduled for 2028, although speculation persists that an earlier vote could be called if the ruling government seeks to capitalize on the opposition's internal crisis.