26.07.2026 13:16
The new party, founded with 91 deputies under the leadership of Özgür Özel after leaving the CHP, has risen to the main opposition position in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, altering the political balance. The answer to the question of whether the party, which has formed a group in Parliament, can receive treasury aid has also become clear. According to the Political Parties Law, the criterion for state aid is not the number of deputies, but the vote share in the last general election. The new party, which has not yet participated in an election, cannot benefit from treasury aid under current laws despite its number of seats.
The New Party, formally established by Özgür Özel with 91 deputies after his resignation from CHP, has shaken the balances in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) and become the main opposition party in the Parliament. However, for the new formation launched with the participation of 91 deputies, the most critical question on the agenda of politics and law has been answered: Will the New Party receive treasury aid?
According to current legislation, the answer is clear: No.
ACCORDING TO THE LAW, THE CRITERION IS NOT THE NUMBER OF DEPUTIES, BUT ELECTORAL SUCCESS
Article Additional 1 of Law No. 2820 on Political Parties is extremely clear. There is a single criterion for state aid to be provided to political parties in Turkey: The vote share obtained in the last general election.
According to the legal regulation, it is legally impossible for a party that has not received 3% or more of the vote at the ballot box or has not yet participated in any general election to receive a share from the treasury, regardless of how many deputies it has. Therefore, the New Party with 91 deputies cannot automatically receive state aid under the current law, no matter how high its seat count.
THE LAW ALSO CLEARLY REGULATES THE PURPOSE OF THE AID
Article Additional 1 of Law No. 2820 on Political Parties stipulates not only the conditions under which treasury aid will be provided but also how this resource will be used. The article states, "Aids provided under this article shall only be used for party needs or party activities."
According to this regulation, treasury aid transferred to political parties cannot be spent for any other purpose; the resource can only be used within the scope of the party's institutional activities, organizational work, and political activities. Using the aid outside its purpose is subject to the oversight mechanisms foreseen in the law.
WHAT RIGHTS DO THE 91 DEPUTIES GRANT THE NEW PARTY?
Although the newly established party will initially be deprived of treasury aid, the presence of 91 deputies has immediately positioned the party as one of the most critical main actors in the TBMM. Thanks to this mass participation, the new party has gained the right to form an official group in Parliament, acquiring immense power in legislative activities. Thus, the party will be able to speak on behalf of its group in all General Assembly discussions, be represented in key specialized committees and international bodies, gain the ability to directly propose laws, and fully enjoy all group privileges under the roof of the TBMM.
BAHÇELİ'S PROPOSAL ALSO HITS LEGAL BARRIERS
The proposal brought to the agenda by MHP Chairman Devlet Bahçeli, regarding "the distribution of treasury aid given to CHP to the 91 deputies who switched to the new party in proportion," also runs into existing laws. Legal experts emphasize that there is no article in the Political Parties Law that allows deductions from one party's budget to be transferred to another party through deputy transfers.
THE ONLY SOLUTION IS A LEGAL AMENDMENT
The only way for the newly established party to receive treasury aid before entering the first general election is for the TBMM General Assembly to pass a new law amending the Political Parties Law. Otherwise, the new party, which has left its mark on Parliament with 91 deputies, will have to carry out all its activities with its own financial means until the next general election.