22.07.2026 07:10
After Özgür Özel announced they would establish a new party, a significant stir occurred within the CHP. While 387,000 out of the party's approximately 2 million registered members resigned within the first hour, the surge caused access issues on e-Devlet. Meanwhile, the first critical resignation came from Murat Bakan, and it was learned that Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu instructed that no negative statements be made about those who left.
Özgür Özel's announcement in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) that he will establish a new political party together with members of parliament caused a major upheaval in the CHP. Following the announcement, 387 thousand people resigned from the CHP, which has approximately 2 million registered members, within the first hour. Due to the intense traffic, access issues occurred in the e-Government service for terminating party membership.
387 THOUSAND RESIGNATIONS IN THE FIRST HOUR
After Özgür Özel's decision for a new party, citizens wishing to terminate their CHP membership flocked to e-Government. With approximately 2 million registered members in the CHP, 387 thousand people resigned within the first hour, causing system congestion. Due to the intensity on the party membership termination screen, intermittent access problems were experienced on e-Government.
"WE ARE ESTABLISHING THE NEW PARTY"
Speaking at his last CHP group meeting in the TBMM, Özgür Özel announced that he would establish a new party with members of parliament.
Describing the ongoing process as "a timely farewell" in his speech, Özel stated, "We are not taking off our shirt in politics. We are putting on the shirt of fire for the future of this country."
Arguing that the newly established party will be the main opposition party in the TBMM by a wide margin, Özel said, "While we bid farewell to the CHP group podium, we never say goodbye to the main opposition group podium."
THE FIRST CRITICAL RESIGNATION FROM MURAT BAKAN
The first notable resignation following Özel's announcement came from Murat Bakan, Deputy Chairman of the CHP and Member of Parliament for Izmir. Bakan became one of the first prominent figures to join the new party.
NOTEWORTHY INSTRUCTION FROM KILIÇDAROĞLU
According to a report by Mahir Kılıç from Habertürk, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu gathered with the members of parliament supporting him to evaluate the process.
It was learned that Kılıçdaroğlu instructed during the meeting not to make negative statements about Özgür Özel and those who left the CHP.
Kılıçdaroğlu was reported to have said, "From now on, our target is the government. We will not oppose the opposition. We will make our criticisms directed at the government. We will not make any negative statements about those who left. They were our fellow travelers in their time."