Unrelenting Rivalry: CHP Leader Ozel's Alleged Loyalty to Imamoglu Stirs Controversy Amongst Erdogan's Followers
Ozgur Ozel, the current chair of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in Turkey, has become a significant figure in Türkiye’s political landscape. His election in November 2023 marked a shift towards a more dynamic, grassroots-focused approach within the CHP, moving away from the traditional, Ankara-centric leadership style.
**Political History:**
Ozgur Ozel's leadership within the CHP has been marked by his active engagement with the public, even in ruling party strongholds. He has emphasised direct public engagement through oratory and mobilisation, as opposed to the more bureaucratic approach of his predecessors.
Ozgur Ozel's election as party chair was the result of a contested intra-party election, where he allied with Ekrem Imamoglu, the Istanbul Mayor and another leading figure in the reformist faction within CHP. This alliance was met with resistance from the party’s older, traditionalist wing, who filed criminal complaints alleging irregularities during the party congress, leading to investigations and court trials regarding the legitimacy of Ozgur Ozel’s election.
**Ideological Ties Within CHP:**
Ozgur Ozel's alignment with Ekrem Imamoglu illustrates his support for the newer, more dynamic leadership within the CHP. His ideological position within the party can be described as reformist, pro-democracy, and oppositional to Erdogan’s increasingly authoritarian governance.
Initially, Ozgur Ozel pursued a somewhat moderate tone towards the ruling AK Party and President Erdogan. However, after the 2024 municipal elections, his rhetoric became more confrontational, especially in support of Imamoglu, who was arrested on graft charges. This shift brought accusations from Erdogan’s party that Ozgur Ozel incited protests and riots.
**Relationship with Erdogan:**
President Erdogan, seeking to test Ozgur Ozel's loyalty to Imamoglu and elevate Ozel's status as a direct interlocutor, initiated a normalization process between the government and the opposition after becoming the prime minister in 2003. However, Ozgur Ozel's open reiteration of his support for Imamoglu, stating that "only an Imamoglu picture can beat Erdogan in the next election, despite his imprisonment," has further deepened the political divide.
In conclusion, Ozgur Ozel is a key figure in the CHP’s ongoing transformation, embodying a reformist faction that challenges the party’s traditional leadership and seeks to engage the Turkish public more directly. His close alliance with Ekrem Imamoglu and his confrontational stance against Erdogan’s government define his ideological position within the party as progressive and oppositional. This makes him a focal point in Turkey’s political landscape as the opposition strives to counterbalance Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).
- The current chair of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in Turkey, Ozgur Ozel, is a significant figure in Türkiye's political landscape, representing a shift towards a more dynamic, grassroots-focused approach within the CHP.
- Ozgur Ozel's election as party chair was a result of a contested intra-party election, where he allied with Ekrem Imamoglu, another leading figure in the reformist faction within CHP, which was met with resistance from the party’s older, traditionalist wing.
- Following the 2024 municipal elections, Ozgur Ozel's rhetoric became more confrontational, especially in support of Imamoglu, who was arrested on graft charges, bringing accusations from Erdogan’s party that Ozgur Ozel incited protests and riots.
- Despite President Erdogan's initiative to normalize relations with the opposition after becoming the prime minister in 2003, Ozgur Ozel's open reiteration of his support for Imamoglu has further deepened the political divide.
- Ozgur Ozel's ideological position within the CHP can be described as reformist, pro-democracy, and oppositional to Erdogan’s increasingly authoritarian governance, making him a focal point in Turkey’s political landscape as the opposition strives to counterbalance Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party).
