A judicial ruling in Ankara has directed Özgür Özel, the leader of the New Party, to compensate President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with 800,000 Turkish Lira, equivalent to approximately $16,500. This financial penalty stems from three specific speeches delivered by Özel in August 2025 during his tenure as the head of the Republican People’s Party. Legal counsel for the president, Hüseyin Aydın, confirmed the court's decision, citing the use of defamatory language and unfounded claims against the head of state. The court specifically allocated portions of the damages to remarks made by Özel at a rally in Bayrampaşa and outside Marmara Prison. Following his departure from the CHP in 2026, Özel established the New Party, which currently serves as the primary opposition force in the Turkish political landscape.
Source : Turkish Minute
