“Total Nonsense”: Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu Denies Claims of Forming a New Party

Former Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has dismissed claims that he or his allies are planning to establish a new political party, calling the rumors “completely baseless.”

The speculation emerged following a court ruling rejecting requests to annul CHP’s 38th Ordinary and 21st Extraordinary Congresses, which had confirmed Özgür Özel’s leadership. Some reports suggested that Kılıçdaroğlu’s inner circle — frustrated by internal disputes — might urge him to break away and form a new party.

Kılıçdaroğlu: “Pure Fabrication”

Speaking to Nefes columnist Aytunç Erkin, Kılıçdaroğlu brushed off the claims with a single sentence:

“Tümüyle palavra.” (“It’s complete nonsense.”)

The former CHP leader reportedly avoided further elaboration, but his brief statement was enough to quell mounting speculation within the party’s ranks.

Kuşoğlu: “We Won’t Leave the Party — We’ll Protect It More Than Ever”

Former CHP deputy and one of Kılıçdaroğlu’s closest allies, Bülent Kuşoğlu, also rejected the “new party” claims, emphasizing loyalty to CHP’s institutional legacy:

“We are the ones who belong to this party. Would we ever abandon it? On the contrary, this is the time to protect it more than ever.”

Kuşoğlu added that the party was going through both internal and external challenges, making unity even more essential:

“We see the difficulties inside and outside the organization, and that’s precisely why we believe it’s time to stand by the party, not to leave it.”

Court Ruling Sparks Speculation

The Ankara court’s decision to reject annulment cases related to CHP’s recent congresses triggered fresh political commentary. Journalist Sinan Burhan claimed that some provincial and district heads who supported Kılıçdaroğlu were “at a crossroads” and might propose establishing a new political movement.

However, both Kılıçdaroğlu and Kuşoğlu’s remarks indicate a clear rejection of any such efforts — positioning the former leader’s faction as loyal critics rather than separatists within the party.

Staying Inside the System

Kılıçdaroğlu’s swift response suggests an awareness of the political costs of fragmentation. With municipal elections and internal restructuring still shaping CHP’s direction, a splinter movement could risk dividing the opposition’s base at a critical moment.