CHP faces political tension with New Party over posters and local incident

Political tensions have escalated between Turkey's Republican People's Party (CHP) and the New Party following several incidents. In Bursa, CHP Nilüfer District officials expressed strong opposition after a poster reading “Join the New Party” was hung on the CHP Nilüfer District Presidency building. CHP Nilüfer Education Secretary Uğur Kartum called for the removal of the poster, stating that while political choice is a democratic right, using another party's institutional building for political messaging lacks political courtesy and respect.

Further friction arose following a violent incident in Gaziantep, where Melih Meriç, a New Party Member of Parliament, was stabbed by Seyyid Ahmet Keleş, a former CHP District Chairman who had since joined the New Party. CHP members have criticized certain media outlets for their coverage of the event, alleging an “influence operation.” They argue that framing the news around the perpetrator's former affiliation with the CHP is an attempt to implicate the party in the conflict and create artificial tension between the two political organizations.