Özel says allies preparing for possible break from CHP
Ousted Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel said on June 18 preparations are underway to establish a new political party or potentially align with an existing one, signaling a possible split within the main opposition movement following a court-ordered leadership change.
“There are preparations for the establishment of a new party. There is also the possibility of joining one of the other existing parties. Maybe we won’t join that party immediately, but we will make our preparations,” Özel said in televised remarks on private broadcaster NOW TV.
His leadership was removed last month after a court ruling invalidated the party’s 2023 convention over alleged irregularities and reinstated former leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and his administration.
Özel’s supporters are pushing for an extraordinary convention to restore the party’s electoral legitimacy. The reinstated administration rejects those calls, arguing that a regular vote should proceed according to schedule.
