Özgür Özel

Özgür Özel is a Turkish pharmacist and politician who has served as leader of the New Party since 2026, and served as leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) from 2023 before being deposed in 2026. He had previously shared the parliamentary deputy group leadership of the CHP with Engin Altay and Levent Gök between 2015 and 2023. Following a court ruling in May 2026, his leadership of the CHP was subject to absolute nullification, triggering the CHP absolute nullity crisis. In July 2026, Özel announced that he would be leaving the CHP to form the New Party.