Politics · Turkey · 9 hrs ago
Four Istanbul district administrations join Yeni Parti
Four Istanbul district administrations joined Yeni Parti on Tuesday, bringing the party’s total in the city to six.
The move involves Bakırköy, Küçükçekmece, Çatalca and Büyükçekmece; their mayors or a deputy mayor joined, along with 86 municipal council members.
The move follows Kadıköy and Maltepe joining last week, according to the announcement.
The officials said their decision to leave the Republican People’s Party was due to differences in management approach, not ideology.
They said they would continue to serve residents equally, regardless of political views.
Yeni Parti is led by Özgür Özel, according to the officials’ statement.
The statement was delayed because of a bribery and corruption operation involving Bakırköy Municipality; no further details about the operation were given.
Four Istanbul district administrations joined Yeni Parti, bringing the party’s total number of municipalities in the city to six.
The move involved four district officials and 86 municipal council members.
The officials said their departure from the Republican People’s Party was due to differences in management approach, not ideology.
They said they would continue their political journey under Yeni Parti, led by Özgür Özel.
- Who
- Bakırköy Mayor Ayşegül Ovalıoğlu, Küçükçekmece Mayor Kemal Çebi, Çatalca Mayor Erhan Güzel, Büyükçekmece Acting Mayor Hakan Çebi, and 86 municipal council members.
- What
- They joined Yeni Parti.
- When
- Tuesday; the article was published on October 27, 2026.
- Where
- Bakırköy, Küçükçekmece, Çatalca and Büyükçekmece, in Istanbul, Turkey.
- Why
- They said the decision reflected differences in management approach, not ideology.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Kadıköy and Maltepe municipalities decided to join Yeni Parti.
Officials from Bakırköy, Küçükçekmece, Çatalca and Büyükçekmece joined Yeni Parti.
- Districts joining
- Bakırköy, Küçükçekmece, Çatalca and Büyükçekmece
- Council members
- 86
- Yeni Parti municipalities in Istanbul
- 6, including Kadıköy and Maltepe
- Party leader named in statement
- Özgür Özel
What people are saying
In our understanding, democratic competition, not polarization, and service to the public, not division, are essential.
No political party is our enemy.