20.08.2026 09:20
New Party Spokesperson Zeynel Emre stated that the congress calendar will begin on August 22, and that those who are members by August 26 will be able to vote. He noted that Turkey needs an early election. Also referring to the attack on his party's Gaziantep Deputy Melih Meriç, Emre evaluated the joint stance of Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş and political parties against the attack as a pleasing development on behalf of the Parliament.
New Party Spokesperson Zeynel Emre said regarding the party's congress calendar, "As of Saturday, August 22, the congress calendar will begin and the calendar will be announced. On August 26, member lists will be posted at the district headquarters and the objection period will begin. Those who are members by August 26 will be able to vote in the ongoing congress processes."
ATTACK ON MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
Emre, at a press conference held in Parliament, touched on the attack against the party's Gaziantep Member of Parliament Melih Meriç and expressed his sorrow over the incident.
Emre described the common stance of Parliament Speaker Numan Kurtulmuş and political parties against the attack as a welcome development on behalf of Parliament, saying, "We have received the information that those responsible have been caught. We want them to receive the punishment they deserve as soon as possible. We will also follow up on this."
OPERATIONS
Emre claimed that Turkey has been being designed through the judiciary for some time, arguing that especially after the local elections of March 31, 2019, they have been facing a new operation every morning.
Emre, who described the investigation into the "Imamoglu criminal organization for profit" as a "coup process," alleged that Ekrem Imamoglu, the Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), who was detained as part of the investigation and then suspended from duty, was prevented from making a defense during the trial process.
CONGRESS CALENDAR
Emre, providing information about the party's congress process, said, "As of Saturday, August 22, the congress calendar will begin and the calendar will be announced. On August 26, member lists will be posted at the district headquarters and the objection period will begin. Those who are members by August 26 will be able to vote in the ongoing congress processes."
Emre stated that they had implemented a new practice in their party and continued his words as follows:
"In the way our voters have been asking from the party for years, it may be called a 'tendency poll' or 'candidate poll' where our party members will elect the provincial, district heads and the general chairman... We will carry these out on a determined date, and they will be determined directly by the votes of our members. We are considering the start date for the district head election we have planned there as September 12. Again, in the provinces, we have evaluated the date for the election of the provincial head as Sunday, October 18. After all these elections are completed, the end date of the provincial congresses will be October 27, and we will convene our party assembly. There, we will also determine the date for our first great general assembly and congress and share it with you."
TERROR-FREE TURKEY PROCESS
New Party Spokesperson Emre answered questions from members of the press after his statements.
When asked about MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli's statement that the New Party could not demonstrate a common will in the "Terror-Free Turkey" process, Emre explained that their party's stance and direction are determined by Chairman Özgür Özel.
Emre, recalling that they said they would take every possible step to find a solution to Turkey's bleeding, deep-rooted wound, said, "Unfortunately, the geography we are in harbors many dangers. When we evaluate this together with possible external influences, despite all criticism and reactions, we, as the leadership and the General Chairman, have put our hands on the stone."
Emre, also stating that the New Party aims to bring a new political understanding to Turkey, said, "Members of parliament do not have to act within a chain of command. It would not be right to take a group decision and change the will under pressure in critical decisions. The increase in support and the strengthening of social peace will not occur only regarding this incident."
"TURKEY NEEDS AN URGENT ELECTION"
When reminded of Bahçeli's statements that "political parties and the electoral system also need to be reorganized," Emre said, "From our perspective, Turkey needs an urgent election. In that election, Turkey truly meeting and being governed by new people, making a new constitution then, making new laws, having transparent governance, and having separation of powers... These are essential requirements for Turkey."
In response to the question regarding the party's congress calendar, "Won't there be congresses and delegates for the district, provincial, and headquarters levels?" Emre replied, "Undoubtedly, the delegate positions that need to be elected by law will be elected; they will be held after these elections. We consider that the decision made there will be complied with. Whether it was candidate determination before or in other forms, compliance has been achieved in the tendency polls conducted by the party."