Turkey: Main opposition lawmaker resigns from party

By Cansu Dikme

ANKARA

A lawmaker from Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) resigned from the party on Monday.

Following his meeting with party leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Aytun Ciray, deputy from the Aegean province of Izmir, said in a statement that he would be among the founders of a new political party set to be officially established on Oct. 25.

Meral Aksener, a former challenger to lead the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), will lead the new, as-yet unnamed party.

Ciray touted the new party as an effort to “create a powerful Turkey which is respected by states worldwide.”

Ciray concluded his statement by expressing gratitude to Kilicdaroglu, adding that he would remain a “moral member” of the CHP.

With Ciray’s resignation, the CHP now holds 132 seats in parliament, while independent lawmakers have six seats, up by one. The ruling Justice and Development Party has 316 seats, unchanged.