Özgür Özel's new party in seven questions: What's on the road map?

After Özgür Özel's last CHP group meeting at the Turkish Grand National Assembly on Tuesday, July 21, which was interpreted as his "farewell speech", all eyes turned to the new political formation. We have compiled frequently asked questions and answers about the new party. Source, Dogukan Keskinkilic/Anadolu / It is now possible to follow the agenda on BBC Turkish on WhatsApp.

Click to get our news directly to your phone. After Özgür Özel's last CHP group meeting at the Turkish Grand National Assembly on Tuesday, July 21, which was interpreted as his "farewell speech", all eyes turned to the new political formation. It is rumored in the Ankara lobbies that Özel and his team will submit the petition for the establishment of the new party to the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the beginning of next week.

It is estimated that around 80-100 MPs will join the new party. So how will the new party be established, will it be able to participate in elections, will it be able to receive Treasury aid? Here are the most frequently asked questions and answers regarding the new formation.

After the CHP's 38th Ordinary Congress was canceled by court decision and Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu took office again as the chairman, the attempts and calls of the Özgür Özel team for an "extraordinary congress" were not responded to by the Kılıçdaroğlu administration. The Regional Court of Justice sent the file regarding the absolute nullity decision to the Supreme Court for appeal review, a few days before July 20, when the judicial recess will begin. It is not expected that the Supreme Court will make a decision regarding the absolute nullity decision in a short time.

Özel and his team decided to speed up the new party establishment process in order not to be caught unprepared for a possible early election and by taking into account the "new party" demands rising from the public. Özel's team has not yet clarified the party name. However, it is said that the name "New Party" stands out behind the scenes.

Work continues on the party's logo. It is expected that Özgür Özel will meet with his staff on Wednesday, July 22, to clarify when the petition for the establishment of the party will be submitted, when he will resign from the CHP and the transition schedule to the new party. The prominent date for the establishment petition behind the scenes is Monday, July 27. It is said in the political lobbies that 85-90 MPs may join the new party in the first stage.

Some estimates are that this number may reach 100. In such a case, CHP will lose its main opposition position in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, and the new party will become the main opposition party. Özgür Özel is also planned to be the chairman of the new party. Deputy transfers will increase the weight of the new party in the parliament; The Parliamentary Presidency will also strengthen its representation power in commissions and group management.

However, this alone will not provide any rights in terms of Treasury aid or eligibility to participate in the election. According to the information obtained, there will be no call for a mass transition to the mayors during the establishment of the new party. The first is the concern that mayors who join the new party may face new judicial and administrative processes.

The second is the possibility that possible divisions in municipal councils may lead to a management crisis in local governments. On the other hand, it is stated that the door will not be closed to mayors who want to join the new party of their own free will, but that these transitions will be shaped by individual preferences. The Political Parties Law requires certain criteria for eligibility to participate in elections.

While in the past it was sufficient for a political party to establish a group in the Turkish Grand National Assembly in order to participate in the general election, with the change in the law made in 2022, political parties were required to be organized in at least 41 provinces and to have held their grand congress at least six months before the election in order to participate in the election. The new party, which aims to complete the establishment process quickly, is planned to carry out both organizational work and group structuring in the Parliament simultaneously, according to lobbies. His special team also plans to keep a political party qualified to participate in the election in reserve, in case participation in a possible dominant election is prevented by legal means.