The Republic of Türkiye’s first political party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), marked its 103rd anniversary on Wednesday. The party’s top officials paid a visit to Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of its founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, as the CHP struggles to survive after a major rift.

Chairperson Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu led a delegation to the mausoleum and commemorated both Atatürk, who was also the first president of Türkiye, and another anniversary: the liberation of the western city of Izmir, a CHP stronghold, from occupying Greek forces 104 years ago. The delegation also visited the tomb of Ismet Inönü, Türkiye’s second president and the CHP’s second chairperson, who is buried near Anıtkabir.

Until July, the CHP was Türkiye’s main opposition party. When the party’s ousted chairperson Özgür Özel founded the New Party (YP), most of its lawmakers left the CHP.

The CHP’s original name was the “People’s Party,” and “Republican” was added to the name in 1924.

One of the world’s oldest political parties, the CHP remained in power from 1923 to 1950 and was shut down following the 1980 military coup. The party was later reopened in 1992.

Except for those who served in an acting capacity, the CHP has been led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Ismet Inönü, Bülent Ecevit, Hikmet Çetin, Altan Öymen, Deniz Baykal, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and Özgür Özel.

The CHP considers the Sivas Congress its first party congress. Its second congress, held on Oct. 15, 1927, went down in history as the congress where Atatürk delivered his “Great Speech” (“Nutuk”).

During the congress, Atatürk spoke for a total of 36 hours and 33 minutes between Oct. 15 and 20, describing, based on documents, all stages of the National War of Independence that began on May 19, 1919, as well as the circumstances surrounding the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye. At the congress, which concluded with his “Address to the Youth,” “Republicanism, Populism, Nationalism and Secularism” were established as the party’s four fundamental principles.

At the CHP’s third ordinary congress, held on May 10, 1931, “Statism and Revolutionism” were added to the party’s principles. This completed the process of incorporating the six principles that formed the philosophy behind the “Six Arrows,” which would become the party’s emblem, into its program and bylaws.

The party held its first extraordinary congress on Dec. 26, 1938, following Atatürk’s death. Ismet Inönü, who was elected chair, held the position for approximately 33 years.

Following Inönü’s resignation, Bülent Ecevit took over as party chair at the sixth extraordinary congress held on May 14, 1972. The 24th Ordinary Congress, held on May 24, 1979, was the CHP’s last congress under Ecevit’s leadership. After the Sept. 12, 1980 coup, Ecevit announced in a petition dated Oct. 30, 1980, that he had resigned as party chair and never returned to the CHP.

The party, which had been shut down following the coup, returned to the political scene on Sept. 9, 1992, with Deniz Baykal elected as its chairperson during the congress held that day.

Following the merger of the Social Democratic Populist Party (SHP) and the CHP on Feb. 18, 1995, Hikmet Çetin was appointed party chairperson. Deniz Baykal was reelected chair at the Ordinary Congress held on Sept. 9, 1995.

Baykal resigned on April 21, 1999, after his party failed to pass the electoral threshold in the general elections held on April 18, 1999. Altan Öymen, who was elected chair at the congress following Baykal’s resignation, held the position for 15 months. At the 11th Extraordinary Congress held on Sept. 30, 2000, Baykal was once again elected chair.

The CHP returned to Parliament as the main opposition party in the general elections held on Nov. 3, 2002, winning 19.4% of the vote.

After Deniz Baykal resigned on May 10, 2010, over secretly recorded footage allegedly showing an extramarital affair, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was elected the CHP’s seventh chair at the party’s 33rd Ordinary Congress.

Kılıçdaroğlu served as CHP chair for 13 years before facing Manisa lawmaker Özgür Özel at the party’s 38th Ordinary Congress, held on Nov. 4-5, 2023.

Since no candidate secured a simple majority in the first round, the vote went to a second round. Following the second-round vote, Özgür Özel was elected the CHP’s new chair with 812 votes.

Özel was reelected chairperson at the 21st Extraordinary Congress held on April 6, 2025, the 22nd Extraordinary Congress held on Sept. 21, 2025, and the 39th Ordinary Congress held on Nov. 28-30, 2025.

Following the CHP’s 38th Ordinary Congress, at which Özgür Özel was elected party chair, former Hatay Mayor Lütfü Savaş and several party delegates took the matter to court, arguing that the congress had been held in violation of the principles of internal party democracy, equality and free will, and seeking its annulment. The case focused on allegations of vote-buying by Özel’s supporters. A trial on the matter concluded in May, with a court in Ankara ruling that the 2023 intraparty election was subject to “absolute nullity” and ordering the reinstatement of Kılıçdaroğlu.

After being removed from office by the court, Özel objected to the court’s interim ruling on May 22 and filed an individual appeal.

Following an application by Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu’s lawyer, CHP headquarters were evacuated by police on May 24. Özel left the party headquarters with his supporters and walked to Parliament.

One day before the evacuation, on May 23, Özel made a countermove by being reelected as CHP parliamentary group chair at a closed-door group meeting held by the CHP in Parliament.

Following the absolute-nullity ruling, Kılıçdaroğlu held a public gathering at the party headquarters on May 30, meeting with party members at the headquarters for the first time in two and a half years.

At a meeting of the Party Assembly on June 2, Kılıçdaroğlu selected members of the Central Executive Board from among those who remained party members and had served on the Party Assembly elected at the 37th Ordinary Congress, where he was last elected chairperson, and resumed party activities.

From that date onward, a process that Kılıçdaroğlu described as “cleansing” began within the CHP. Numerous party members, including nine lawmakers, were referred to the High Disciplinary Board with requests for their definitive expulsion, while appointments were made to provincial and district party leadership positions in all 81 provinces and their districts. The “cleansing” targeted CHP members involved in corruption cases, including mayors who were arrested on such charges while Özel was leading the party.

Later, 91 lawmakers resigned from the CHP and founded the YP under Özgür Özel’s leadership, reducing the CHP’s number of seats in Parliament to 44. As a result, the CHP lost its position as the main opposition party in Parliament and became the fifth-largest party in terms of number of seats.

The First Muslim Diaspora Forum of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states was held in Ankara on Tuesday. Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz was among the speakers at the forum, which brought together representatives of the states of the international Islamic body. His speech focused on solidarity and standing against Israeli oppression of Palestinians.

Yılmaz lashed out at Israel’s attempt to brand any opposition to its oppression of Palestinians as “antisemitism.” “(Israeli Prime Minister) Netanyahu himself has left Jews across the world in a hard place because of his actions. The Netanyahu government has put Jews who do not want to be a part of the oppression in a difficult position,” he said, while noting that the Republic of Türkiye has never been antisemitic, as the Netanyahu administration has claimed.

Türkiye champions the Palestinian cause, and under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, it has launched diplomatic efforts to end the genocide in Gaza. Erdoğan has been a staunch opponent of the Netanyahu administration and often likens Netanyahu to Hitler.

The Turkish vice president said solidarity in the face of the tragedy in Gaza was precious, while describing what is happening in the Palestinian enclave as unprecedented.

Yılmaz noted that the inability to implement United Nations resolutions, the weakening of international law, and the protection, in a sense, of perpetrators demonstrate that the existing global order has an extremely limited capacity to deliver justice. He recalled that President Erdoğan’s call that “The world is bigger than five,” arose precisely from this context.

Yılmaz said a dangerous mindset has emerged based on the idea that, “If I am powerful, I can do whatever I want.” In response, he said, Türkiye has made it clear: “We are not living in a period when we can rely on anyone’s mercy. We are living in a period of deepening geopolitical rivalry. We will be both strong and in the right. Despite everything that has happened, we will continue working for a more just world without losing our hope in humanity.”

“Under the leadership of our President, Türkiye will continue to stand by the right, the truth, and the oppressed, whatever the cost, to deliver humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza; and to defend the Palestinian cause on international platforms. The thing tyrants fear most is the light of truth. And at precisely this point, we will continue to proclaim the truth in a loud and clear voice,” he said.

Yılmaz said Muslim diasporas have great power in the countries where they live to bring Gaza’s voice to the public and decision-makers and to mount an effective social response to narratives that distort the truth. “The framework that we could call an ‘Alliance of the Virtuous’ or an ‘alliance of humanity’ is very important here,” he said.

He stressed that it is necessary to fight against this oppression in solidarity with all people, institutions and organizations that are aware that what is happening in Gaza constitutes a crime against humanity. “By mobilizing this power through a common narrative and continuous coordination, we must turn solidarity with the Palestinian people into a more effective, visible and results-oriented struggle,” he said.

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The government’s ally, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), laid out a list of incentives as Türkiye faces the threat of a growing population decline. The proposals cover everything from free baby food and diapers to discounts for families with three or more children.

Party Deputy Chair Özgür Bayraktar said the proposals were included in a report entitled “Türkiye’s Population Vision,” which they presented to MHP Chair Devlet Bahçeli.

Türkiye ranked as the world’s 18th most populous country in 2025, with a population of 86.1 million, while its fertility rate remained below the global average and its population continued to show signs of gradual aging, according to data released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) in August.

Türkiye declared 2025 the “Year of the Family,” signaling urgent concern over the country’s declining fertility rates. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan characterized the current demographic trend as a “disaster.”

The report put forward 11 policy recommendations, including restructuring maternity insurance by incorporating it into the long-term insurance branches. It also noted that the premium-day and age requirements for mothers to qualify for retirement should be gradually reduced based on the number of children they have.

Other proposals include a 50% discount on utility bills, covering everything from electricity and natural gas to internet subscriptions, for families with three or more children, flexible and remote working models for mothers, free diapers and baby formula and incentives for young couples seeking to move from big cities to rural areas.

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Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, who retook the top post in the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) in May, may anger and cheer up Ekrem Imamoğlu at the same time. Opposing a narrative that the former Istanbul mayor was arrested to curb his political rise, Kılıçdaroğlu said Imamoğlu is not “a political prisoner.”

“I also voted for his (future) presidential candidacy, but we have to separate the trials he faced from the presidential candidacy,” he was quoted by Euronews on Tuesday.

Imamoğlu was arrested last year on corruption charges, about two years after he campaigned to oust Kılıçdaroğlu from the CHP’s top post. Özgür Özel succeeded Kılıçdaroğlu in a November 2023 election, but a court ruled that the election should be nullified amid allegations that Özel’s associates in the CHP bribed delegates to vote for him. Özel left his post in May but vowed to appeal the court ruling, only to change his mind two months later and go on to establish New Party (YP) with fellow CHP lawmakers.

In the interview, Kılıçdaroğlu also said that his party may ally with the YP in the next election. The veteran politician, who was branded a “traitor” by YP supporters after he was reinstated to his post by a court ruling, told Euronews that they were open to supporting the YP’s presidential candidate, Imamoğlu, if he is eligible to run in the next election.

“Twenty-four hours is a very long time in politics,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, quoting former President Süleyman Demirel. “Political relations should be based on the country’s interests. Politics have no room for hostility,” he said, on the possibility of an alliance with the YP, whose members fiercely resisted Kılıçdaroğlu’s return to CHP chairpersonship.

Kılıçdaroğlu returned to the CHP with a promise to “clean up” the party of “corruption,” and in the following months, the party parted ways with mayors and others indicted in corruption investigations. Imamoğlu soon joined them. Kılıçdaroğlu said the arrest of Imamoğlu was “not right” but his presidential candidacy should not be linked to the trials against him.

Imamoğlu faces thousands of years in prison for allegedly running a criminal gang that thrived on bribery and corruption at Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), while Özel has claimed that he was jailed to prevent his future candidacy in the 2028 elections. Imamoğlu is currently ineligible to run for office because his university diploma was annulled on charges of forgery.

The CHP leader said people accused of corruption should be able to defend themselves and “account for every penny they are accused of stealing.”

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Türkiye and Czechia are seeking to expand cooperation in defense, technology and other sectors while increasing their bilateral trade volume to $10 billion (TL 484.21 billion), Turkish Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Fuat Oktay said Tuesday during an official visit to Prague.

Oktay, an Ankara lawmaker from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), traveled to the Czech capital with members of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee at the invitation of the Czech Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security.

The visit is aimed at strengthening interparliamentary ties, exploring new areas of bilateral cooperation and exchanging views on regional and international developments.

Oktay said the Turkish delegation was scheduled to hold talks with Czech officials, including the industry and trade minister, members of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies, the Türkiye-Czechia parliamentary friendship group and officials dealing with European Union affairs.

Economic and defense cooperation are expected to feature prominently in the talks.

Oktay said bilateral trade had already surpassed an earlier target of $5 billion and reached about $6.5 billion, with the two countries now seeking to raise that figure to at least $10 billion.

“We have a trade volume that has reached $6.5 billion, but we now have a target of bringing it to the $10 billion level and beyond,” Oktay said. “We see that relations are progressing very rapidly toward exceeding that level.”

Defense ties in focus

Oktay said defense industry cooperation was among the areas offering significant potential for expanding ties between the two NATO allies.

He pointed to an agreement involving Turkish defense company Aselsan and a Czech group, saying there was scope to turn existing cooperation into more concrete projects, including potential investment involving Aselsan.

Talks are also continuing on cooperation in air defense systems, particularly short-range and low-altitude air defense capabilities, Oktay noted.

He added that Türkiye’s state-owned Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE) as well as private-sector companies could also become part of broader defense cooperation.

Beyond defense, the two sides are looking at cooperation in engineering, innovation and research and development.

Oktay stated that Czechia had advanced capabilities in those fields, while Türkiye had significantly expanded its technological and innovation infrastructure over the past decade.

The two countries would examine how that potential could be transformed into concrete projects and how lawmakers could help remove barriers facing businesses and investors, he said.

Oktay also pointed to aviation and tourism as areas with room for further growth, citing an agreement reached in 2025 between two airline companies.

He said stronger air links could contribute not only to tourism but also to cultural and commercial ties.

Türkiye currently hosts about 400,000 Czech tourists, while roughly 100,000 Turkish tourists travel to Czechia, according to Oktay.

Ukraine, Middle East on agenda

Regional security and international developments are also expected to form a major part of the talks in Prague.

Oktay said the delegation would discuss the Russia-Ukraine war, noting Czech concerns about security threats stemming from Russia and Türkiye’s ability to maintain dialogue with both Moscow and Kyiv.

Türkiye has sought to position itself as a diplomatic intermediary in the conflict, maintaining political and economic ties with Russia while supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

Oktay said Ankara’s communication channels with both sides could contribute to efforts to find diplomatic solutions and that parliamentary diplomacy could complement those initiatives.

The talks are also expected to cover developments involving Iran, the Strait of Hormuz and Gaza, as well as Israel’s policies in the region, Oktay said.

The officials also discussed the developments in the Balkans, European security architecture, trans-Atlantic relations and NATO’s future posture following decisions taken at the alliance’s latest summit.

Oktay said the Prague meetings followed talks held between the two countries’ parliamentary committees in Türkiye in May, the first such committee-level meeting after a lengthy break.

He said both sides had concluded after that meeting that the range of potential cooperation was broad enough to warrant more frequent and detailed consultations.

“This is the second meeting,” Oktay said, adding that the two sides hoped to continue with third and fourth rounds without lengthy intervals.

Oktay also thanked the Turkish ambassador to Prague and embassy staff for their work and hospitality, saying the delegation had observed the services provided to Turkish citizens in Czechia during the visit.

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Türkiye plans to introduce new legislation addressing indefinite alimony payments as part of a judicial reform package expected to be presented in October, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek said Monday.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the opening of the 2026-2027 judicial year in Ankara, Gürlek said the government was preparing the second part of the 12th Judicial Package, which is expected to contain between 24 and 25 provisions.

“Following the Constitutional Court’s annulment decision, we plan to implement the necessary legal regulations regarding indefinite alimony as part of the package in October,” Gürlek noted.

In a landmark ruling on June 4, Türkiye’s Constitutional Court annulled a legal provision that allows indefinite alimony payments following divorce, paving the way for a new legal framework on spousal support.

Under Article 175 of Türkiye’s Civil Code, titled “alimony for poverty,” a spouse who is expected to fall into poverty as a result of divorce may seek financial support from the other spouse in proportion to that spouse’s financial means, provided the applicant is not more at fault in the breakdown of the marriage.

The provision explicitly allows such support to be awarded on an indefinite basis, meaning Turkish law does not set a fixed time limit for alimony payments.

The minister said the package would also seek to address problems faced by lawyers and improve the functioning of judicial proceedings.

Gürlek noted that the first part of the 12th Judicial Package had already been enacted and entered into force, adding that the government aimed to bring the second part onto the agenda in October.

The event was also attended by Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) officials, Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor, Ankara Bar Association No. 2 President and members of the judiciary.

Gürlek said a strong legal system was essential to achieving Türkiye’s broader development goals and reiterated the government’s commitment to drafting what he described as a civilian, democratic and inclusive constitution.

“As we implement our vision for the ‘Century of Justice,’ we will continue our determination to advance the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights without abandoning our goal of a civilian, democratic and inclusive constitution,” he said.

Turning to international affairs, Gürlek criticized double standards by many Western countries in responding to human rights violations, saying they had undermined confidence in international law.

He said people in Türkiye’s surrounding region had faced displacement, genocide and massacres for decades while international institutions had often failed to respond effectively.

Gürlek argued that international legal principles were increasingly applied differently depending on the interests of powerful states and said Türkiye would continue advocating for the effective implementation of international law.

“The Turkish nation will continue to stand wherever and whenever justice and law are needed.”

Gürlek also stressed the importance of domestic unity, arguing that a stable and cohesive Türkiye would be better positioned to contribute to regional stability, global justice and peace.

“A Türkiye that is strong, peaceful and united within itself will make much greater contributions to humanity’s peace, regional stability and global justice,” he said.

He concluded that justice and legal certainty would remain the strongest foundation for a more powerful Türkiye.

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