Imprisoned Istanbul mayor joins new opposition party

Ekrem Imamoglu, the imprisoned mayor of Istanbul and a key political rival of President Tayyip Erdogan, announced on Wednesday his resignation from the Republican People's Party (CHP) after 17 years of membership. He subsequently confirmed his decision to join the newly formed 'New Party,' a political group launched last month by Ozgur Ozel and 90 other lawmakers who broke away from the CHP.

The realignment follows a series of unprecedented legal actions against the Turkish opposition. Last month, a court removed Ozgur Ozel from his position as CHP chairman and reinstated the party's former leader, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leading to a split within the organization. Imamoglu, who has been held in Silivri prison for over a year on contested corruption charges, stated that his decision to join the New Party reflects his commitment to democratic values and his responsibility toward the future of Turkey. The New Party has since emerged as a significant parliamentary opposition force.

While the next national elections are scheduled for 2028, political instability and these recent shifts suggest the possibility of earlier contests. Imamoglu remains in detention pending the conclusion of his corruption trial, though he continues to engage in political activity through social media announcements.