28.07.2026 11:30
New Party Leader Özgür Özel emphasized that there are no issues with Mansur Yavaş, while claiming that pressure was put on Zeydan Karalar, whose case is ongoing, not to switch to their party. Özel stated that no one can come between him and either of the two mayors.
New Party Chairman Özgür Özel made highly critical statements on a live broadcast program regarding the agenda, the party's founding process, the situation of mayors, and discussions on presidential candidacy. Özel, who gave harsh messages on many issues from targeting journalists to immunity reports, also announced his government goals.
"TARGETING THE YOUNG REPORTER IS UNACCEPTABLE"
New Party Chairman Özgür Özel, who participated in Halk TV broadcast, reacted to the targeting of the journalist who reported on the use of extras during a badge ceremony organized by the team appointed to CHP's administration in Sarıyer. Emphasizing press freedom, Özel stated, "Targeting our young journalist colleague is unacceptable."
WILL MANSUR YAVAŞ AND ZEYDAN KARALAR JOIN THE NEW PARTY?
Clarifying claims about two critical mayors, Özel stated they had no doubts about Mansur Yavaş: "We have no suspicion regarding Yavaş. Mr. Mansur had already walked with us in our former party. We did not extend invitations to anyone. So, let no one call Mr. Mansur a 'butlanci'."
Özel noted that Zeydan Karalar's situation was special, stating there was a brotherly relationship between them, and that Karalar has an ongoing trial in the Aziz İhsan Aktaş case.
"THEY ARE CREATING PRESSURE AND FEAR"
Reminding that Karalar's case is at the decision stage, Özgür Özel claimed that some circles are trying to create a climate of fear over mayors: "On one hand, there is a government media spreading fear that 'if you join the New Party, such and such will happen' to many of our municipalities, and AK Party's judicial arms. There are news pieces sent from various mouths—front, back, right, left—by the butlan administration. They cannot come between Zeydan and me; they talk nonsense from here and there, impertinently. There are processes where the butlan administration's self-proclaimed virtues attempt to spread fear everywhere, even reaching parliament corridors. To a mayor under operation, saying 'We can talk to so-and-so if needed'... If true, it's a scandal; if false, it's also a scandal."
"OUR RESPECT FOR ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS IS INFINITE"
Arguing that Turkey is going through an extremely sensitive transition period, the New Party Leader stated that as the New Party, they absolutely do not recognize appointed administrations, but have infinite respect for all elected mayors. Özel outlined the party's fundamental goal with the words: "We will continue our march to power."
"WHO HAS EVER SCARED ME WITH IMMUNITY FOR THE BUTLANCIS TO SCARE ME?"
Speaking harshly about possibilities regarding the lifting of his own and some MPs' immunities, Özel argued that such steps and pressures are aimed at intimidating MPs to change parties, mayors, and citizens: "Who has ever scared me with immunity for the butlancis to scare me?"
Özel claimed that the political pressures attempted to be applied against the New Party would backfire, and that voters' reaction to these attempts would be much harsher at the ballot box.
"IF EKREM İMAMOĞLU CANNOT BE A CANDIDATE, THE PEOPLE SHOULD DETERMINE THE CANDIDATE"
Drawing a clear framework on how the presidential candidate will be determined, Özgür Özel addressed the legal and political pressures on Ekrem İmamoğlu: "The cost of everything done to prevent İmamoğlu from being a candidate must be borne by Tayyip Erdoğan and the AK Party. Erdoğan is someone who fears his rival and has him imprisoned to prevent his candidacy, and he must pay the political price. Therefore, if Mayor Ekrem cannot be a candidate, the candidate should be determined by the nation."
"WHEN WE COME TO POWER, WE WILL NOT CONFUSE THEM"
Recalling his words "We will not be forgetful" when bidding farewell to CHP before founding the New Party, Özel delivered a harsh message for the future: "Everyone should be certain of this: we are at a turning point in history. At this historical turning point, we will not confuse those who stood in the right place with those who stopped our march to power to once again open the door to power for Erdoğan when we come to power in the future."
Stating that they will never forgive those he defines as "butlancis," Özel emphasized that when the New Party comes to power in the future, they will never allow them to try to curry favor.
"EVEN MY THROAT WAS LUMPED WHEN TAKING OFF THE BADGE"
Referring to the emotional moments during the departure from CHP, Özgür Özel stated that they separate those who were forced to stay in the party from others: "These days, there are those who are forced to stay in CHP but stay crying. Even my throat was lumped when taking off the badge. We all came crying. There are those who are not on the side of butlan and stay there. We do not lump those friends in the same category. It is impossible to treat the rest, except for 18-19 people, the same way."
"I SEE THE VOTE RATE RISING ABOVE 40 PERCENT"
Announcing that they plan to complete the New Party congress in September, Özgür Özel stated that due to current legal timelines, they are keeping a second party in reserve in case the New Party cannot enter a potential snap election alone. Responding to questions about his party's electoral potential, Özel explained his vote rate estimate: "The fundamental motivation of our new party is to come to power; we will come to power to save everyone. There is no other way. If the New Party tells itself correctly, meets the people's expectations correctly, and the public continues to embrace it in the future, I see it rising above 40 percent."