Ekrem İmamoğlu joins newly formed Yeni Parti

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has announced his departure from the Republican People's Party (CHP) to join the newly formed Yeni Parti (New Party). İmamoğlu shared the decision via an Instagram post, calling on his supporters to follow him to the new political organization.

The move follows a split within the CHP after a court decision removed party leader Özgür Özel, replacing him with former president Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Following this leadership change, Özel and 90 other representatives left the CHP to establish the Yeni Parti.

İmamoğlu, who was previously named the CHP's presidential candidate for the 2028 elections, is currently facing legal challenges. He was detained by police on corruption charges, with prosecutors recently seeking a prison sentence of 2,353 years. Some polls suggest the newly formed Yeni Parti could potentially lead in popularity, ahead of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's Justice and Development Party.