27.07.2026 22:20
Özgür Özel, who founded the New Party by leaving the CHP with 90 deputies, made statements during a live broadcast. Saying, 'Starting tomorrow, over 200 mayors will declare their intention to join the New Party,' Özel stated that they did not send invitations to any mayors. Regarding Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş, he said, 'He is in our former party, we did not invite him,' while for Adana Metropolitan Mayor Zeydan Karalar, he used the phrase, 'They cannot join our ranks.'
Özgür Özel, who left the CHP with 90 deputies to found the New Party, made statements that will stir political circles during a television program he attended as party leader. Announcing a clear figure for the first time regarding local administrators who will don the party badge, Özel declared that a massive wave of participation will begin across Turkey.
OVER 200 MUNICIPALITIES ARE TRANSITIONING TO THE NEW PARTY
Announcing that a major participation process will start as of tomorrow, Özgür Özel explained the intention of mayors across Turkey to join the party with these words:
"As of tomorrow, over 200 municipalities will declare their will to join the NEW Party."
"NO ONE SHOULD CALL MAYOR MANSUR A 'BUTLANCI'"
After highlighting the mass participations across Turkey, Özel addressed the situation of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş, putting an end to speculations about Yavaş:
"Unless a mayor says 'I am not with Özgür Özel,' they are with us. We did not invite many of our friends due to municipal council balances. No one should label someone as 'butlancı' unless they have transitioned to the New Party without my saying anything. Anyone who does not say 'I am a butlancı' is not a butlancı in my heart. We are in a transition period, a sensitive period. We are about to achieve something important." He added: "Mansur Yavaş is in our old party. We haven't invited anyone. Therefore, no one should call Mayor Mansur a 'butlancı'."
"THEY CANNOT COME BETWEEN ZEYDAN KARALAR AND US"
Finally, addressing the legal process regarding Adana Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Zeydan Karalar and the comments made, Özgür Özel stated that the bond between them cannot be broken, saying:
"There is a different situation for Zeydan Karalar. A decision will be made in his case. They speak rudely because they cannot come between me and Mayor Zeydan."