Following Ümit Özdağ's decision, Zafer Party Deputy Chairman Bartu Soral resigned from his position

Deputy Chairman of the Zafer Party , Bartu Soral, announced that Ümit Özdağ resigned from his party following the Saraçhane decision.

HE MADE A STATEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Sharing his resignation decision on social media, Soral made the following statement: "In a period when our constitutional and legal rights were completely suspended and those who opposed were treated like blacks, rescuing Mr. Ümit Özdağ from the clutches of lawlessness was the most important and only duty; we all made efforts for this. The economic, social and legal difficulties that Türkiye has faced with the AKP government in the last 23 years are obvious… we are constantly making these determinations. However, making determinations is insufficient; we also have to find solutions and present them to the people. In order to recover from this destruction and complete the Atatürk revolution, a "founding cadre as if it was in 1923" is needed.

In fact, in my message to X dated May 21, which I quoted below, I touched upon this issue with the following words; “(…) I think that the dominant tendency in the party, both in terms of reaching the Kemalist, enlightened and intellectual cadres of the society and creating social synergy by incorporating them into the party, and in terms of ideological perspective and behavior, is inadequate in responding to today’s needs.”

I believe that the cadre that I define as the “founding cadre” should include the names of Türker Ertürk, Ümit Kocasakal, Adnan İslamoğulları, Ahmet Yavuz, Servet Avcı and others whose names I cannot mention, who are Atatürkist, experienced and knowledgeable in the public opinion. I believe that the Zafer Party should transform into a cadre party that is institutional and managed with common sense. I see such a well-equipped cadre and management with common sense as essential for a party that aims for power and can cope with today’s regional and national chaos. Of course, these names can be convinced not with a call like “let’s do politics together” but with a commitment to common sense and common management. This fundamental fact lies at the core of the cadre party. However, Mr. Ümit Özdağ’s comments and preferences on this issue as the general chairman have always been different from mine.

"I see that he still stands at the same point regarding his cadre, institutionalization and opening up to the Kemalist wing after his illegal detention. Of course, he may have decided to change his way of doing politics during the difficult process of his illegal detention. Of course, it is all his own discretion. He is the party chairman, we will respect his choices. However, Kemalism is revolutionism. It is the protection of the unitary structure, nationalism, statism, populism, merit, science, law, struggle. The Republic of Turkey needs Kemalism like air and water during this process. Unfortunately, you cannot become an Kemalist by saying it… You become one by taking action…"

"IT'S NOT SUITABLE FOR MY FORM"

"Being in a place where you do not believe that you can solve the country's problems, with only political career goals, would not be a sincere stance towards the party chairman, the citizens who trust us, or myself. On the contrary, it would be deceiving everyone. That does not suit my nature. I offer my wishes of success, love and respect to all the organizations, members and volunteers of the Victory Party and to Mr. Ümit Özdağ."

TO THE PUBLIC In a period when our constitutional and legal rights were completely suspended and those who opposed were treated like blacks, rescuing Mr. Ümit Özdağ from the clutches of lawlessness was the most important and only duty; we all worked together for this.

AKP rule in Turkey in the last 23 years… https://t.co/Rcm6GATjXS

— H. Bartu Soral (@BartuSoral) July 1, 2025

BANNED GOING TO THE RALLY

Ümit Özdağ sent a letter to his party's provincial and district organizations. The letter included the following statements: "No one from the Zafer Party organizations will attend the CHP's event in Saraçhane today."

Speaking to İsmail Saymaz, Özdağ explained the reason for the decision by saying, "I asked the organization not to attend the rally because of the possibility that the provocations and reactions to the inappropriate cartoon in LeMan could be carried over to Saraçhane. Also, this is a CHP rally, not ours."