Key facts
- Ozgur Ozel, ousted as leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), announced plans to form a new party.
- A court ruling annulled the 2023 CHP congress, reinstating Kemal Kilicdaroglu as chairman.
- Next Turkish elections are scheduled for May 14, 2028, but early elections can be called.
- President Erdogan may be eligible to run for another term if an early election is called during his current term.
- A constitutional amendment is another potential path for Erdogan to seek re-election.
Ozgur Ozel, who was ousted as the leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) by a court decision, announced he is formally resigning from the party to launch a new one. The court's ruling annulled the 2023 CHP congress that had elected Ozel, citing irregularities, and reinstated Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the party's former leader who lost to President Tayyip Erdogan in the 2023 presidential election. Ozel stated that preparations are underway for the possible establishment of a new political party, with formal steps potentially occurring by the end of July or early August if his legal appeals and requests for an extraordinary party congress are blocked. The judicial intervention has been described by critics as politically motivated amid a crackdown on opponents, rattling financial markets and fueling concerns about democracy and the rule of law in Turkey. The government maintains that the judiciary is independent. The political landscape has shifted since the CHP's victory in the 2024 local elections, with a widening crackdown leading to the suspension, arrest, or prosecution of opposition mayors. Some mayors have switched parties or resigned from the CHP, while several lawmakers elected from opposition parties have joined the ruling AKP, strengthening its parliamentary position. Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its allies currently hold 328 seats in the 600-seat parliament, falling short of the 360 needed to call an early election. The CHP, which has 135 seats, is expected to largely align with Ozel's new party. Analysts suggest the ruling alliance might seek support from the DEM Party for an early vote. Erdogan could also seek re-election through a constitutional amendment, which would require 400 parliamentary votes or a referendum. His nationalist ally, MHP leader Devlet Bahceli, has indicated openness to considering such an amendment.