Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş announced Wednesday that he had resigned from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), saying he would continue his political career as an independent.

Yavaş announced the decision in a statement posted on social media, saying: “I am resigning my membership in the Republican People’s Party and will continue my political path as an independent.”

The decision follows weeks of speculation over Yavaş’s political future amid growing tensions within Turkey’s opposition landscape. His recent contacts with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and discussions surrounding his relationship with the CHP and the newly established Yeni Parti had fueled speculation about a possible change in his political affiliation. Yavaş had previously rejected claims that he had decided to join another party.

Yavaş’s resignation comes as Türkiye’s opposition has undergone a significant political realignment following the creation of the Yeni Parti.

The new party was formally established on July 24 after Özgür Özel and 90 other lawmakers resigned from the CHP and joined the founding body. Özel signed the party’s founding documents, while the establishment petition and founding documents were submitted to the Interior Ministry.

Özel was subsequently elected Yeni Parti’s chairman by the founding body. The party entered parliament with 91 lawmakers, making it the largest opposition group at the time of its establishment, while the CHP’s parliamentary representation fell substantially.

The formation of Yeni Parti followed a period of internal political and legal disputes surrounding the CHP. Before the new party was formally established, speculation had grown that several CHP figures could leave the party and join the new formation.

Yavaş had previously said that his political contacts should not automatically be interpreted as preparations to change parties. Following a meeting with Erdoğan earlier this month, he said the talks concerned Ankara’s municipal projects and financing needs and argued that dialogue with the central government was necessary for the city’s administration.

The CHP leadership had also publicly discussed Yavaş’s political position. CHP spokesperson Müslim Sarı said earlier this month that municipal officials needed to clarify their political affiliations amid speculation surrounding the CHP and Yeni Parti.

Yavaş’s announcement therefore marks a significant change from his previous position as a CHP-affiliated mayor, although he has explicitly stated that he will continue as an independent rather than announcing a move to Yeni Parti.

Despite speculation, Yavaş has not announced that he will join Yeni Parti. His statement specifically says that he will continue his political path as an independent.

The development leaves open questions about his longer-term political plans, including whether he will eventually establish a new political alignment or remain outside party structures.

For now, Yavaş remains Ankara’s metropolitan mayor and has said that his political activities will continue independently following his departure from the CHP. (ILKHA)