After 17 Years in the CHP, Ekrem Imamoglu Joins the New Opposition Party

Ekrem Imamoglu, the imprisoned mayor of Istanbul, has decided to end his 17-year membership in the Republican People’s Party (CHP) and join the new political formation established by representatives who broke away from Turkey’s opposition.

He made the news public in a statement on the social media platform X. Imamoglu linked his decision to his vision for Turkey’s future and his responsibility toward citizens. “Today, we are opening a new path to build a stronger, more democratic and more hopeful future for Turkey,” he wrote.

The move follows a judicial development that affected the CHP’s leadership. Özgür Özel, the leader of Turkey’s opposition, and 90 breakaway lawmakers formed a new party last month, with the aim of reorganizing the opposition ahead of a confrontation with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Imamoglu is considered one of Erdogan’s main political opponents. He has been in prison for more than a year and is awaiting trial on corruption charges, which he has denied.

Just days after his arrest in March 2025, the CHP selected him as its presidential candidate. One day before his arrest, Istanbul University revoked his degree, a document that is one of the necessary requirements for running for president.

The newly formed party is already the second-largest party in Turkey’s parliament. Imamoglu’s move could affect support for the opposition, while its fragmentation into several political entities could influence the next confrontation with Erdogan.

Turkey’s next elections are expected to be held in 2028, although there is a possibility they could be held earlier.

According to the opposition and several human rights organizations, the measures against CHP figures have a political motive. The Turkish government has rejected these claims, insisting that the judicial system operates independently.