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Suspended Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Ozgur Ozel said Wednesday that preparations are underway to establish a new political party.
Formal steps are possible by the end of July or the beginning of August as legal proceedings involving Türkiye's main opposition party continue.
Speaking on Turkish broadcaster Sozcu TV, Ozel said work was underway on the prospective party's name and logo, adding that the group was using "New Party" as a provisional name.
"We are working on the name and logo. The generally accepted name is clear; for now, let's call it 'New Party,'" Ozel said.
He said a formal step could be taken in late July or early August.
Ozel said a group was already working on preparations for the party's establishment, including drafting its bylaws and political program.
He said legal proceedings involving the CHP were still underway and could take another 10 to 15 days.
A final decision would be made after those processes were exhausted and following consultations with the party's elected provincial chairs, he said.
"There is no exact date. If the legal avenues are exhausted, we will take our step," Ozel said.
Ozel also said talks were underway over the possibility of keeping an existing political party as an alternative option.
He had previously described preparations for a new party, or the possibility of moving to an existing party, as a contingency plan rather than an immediate decision to abandon the CHP.
He said such options were being considered for a scenario in which the party became unable to participate in elections.
The CHP continues to grapple with a leadership dispute triggered by a court decision invalidating the party's 2023 congress over alleged procedural irregularities and ordering a new leadership vote.
An Ankara court in May annulled the CHP's 2023 leadership election over allegations of vote buying and reinstated former Chairman Kemal Kilicdaroglu as interim chairman.
The ruling temporarily restored the party's pre-congress administration under Kilicdaroglu to oversee preparations for a fresh congress.
CHP officials have denied allegations that the original leadership contest was tainted by misconduct.
The decision sparked protests within the CHP, and party headquarters were briefly surrounded by police following the ruling.
Ozel, who was removed from office under the court decision, has called for an extraordinary congress, arguing that the party cannot be governed under what he described as an imposed leadership.
Political observers cited by Turkish media say Kilicdaroglu now faces mounting pressure to quickly organize a new congress, though questions remain over the timing of the vote and the future balance of power within the party.
The CHP's 2023 congress saw Ozel defeat Kilicdaroglu, ending Kilicdaroglu's more than decadelong tenure as leader of Türkiye's main opposition party.
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