Imprisoned Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu announced on Wednesday his resignation from the Republican People's Party after 17 years of membership, directing supporters to join the newly formed New Party. The statement, issued through his presidential candidacy office, also confirmed the departure of his wife, Dilek Kaya İmamoğlu, from the CHP.
İmamoğlu has been held at Marmara Prison in Silivri since March 23, 2025, facing charges of establishing and leading a criminal organisation across 142 alleged offences. He was named the CHP's presidential candidate in a primary held the same day as his arrest, in which 14.8 million voters participated.
The New Party, founded in July by Özgür Özel and 91 lawmakers after a court ruling removed Özel as CHP chairman, has become the second-largest force in parliament. Former CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu resumed control of the party following the court's annulment decision, while 232 mayors and 265 former lawmakers have also defected.