Our Message to Germany is Clear: It's Time for a New Beginning for Türkiye

NEW Party Chairman Özgür Özel sent an article titled "Our Message to Germany is Clear" to the German broadcaster WELT.

Özel used the following statements in his article:

"There are few relations in Europe as deep-rooted as the relations between Turkey and Germany. The ties between our countries extend far beyond the governments of the day. We are among each other's most important trading partners. Millions of people of Turkish origin living in Germany make significant contributions to the economic, social and cultural life of the country. Migration spanning decades, family ties and common history also bind our countries together. While our cooperation in the fields of trade, energy, defense and security is becoming increasingly important, a stable, democratic and prosperous Turkey is a priority for both Germany and Germany. It is in Europe's fundamental interest because we cannot separate them from each other.

"THE NEW PARTY WAS BORN FROM THE NATION'S DEMAND FOR CHANGE"

Turkey's long-term stability; It depends on strong institutions, the rule of law and the ability of citizens to freely determine the government that will govern them. Türkiye is tired. He is tired of economic troubles, adventurous policies and wrong decisions for which he has paid the price for years. He is tired of obstructing justice, eroding democratic values and turning the judiciary into a tool of politics. He is tired of constantly reshaping state institutions to suit the needs of a small circle. He is tired of polarizing debates over his history and identity, and of a foreign policy that drifts from side to side and lacks consistency and a strategic goal. But now a new beginning is approaching. The NEW Party was born from this demand for change. We have to be a party that looks to the future with hope and sets new goals for society. We must be the party of the future, the driving force of progress and a force that will take Turkey beyond the divisions of the past and the authoritarian politics of today.

2024 LOCAL ELECTIONS

The political order, which has been increasingly shaped around a single person for more than 20 years, is now approaching the end of the road. The first clear sign of this appeared in the 2024 local elections. CHP, of which I was the chairman at that time, became the first party in Turkey. This was a historic achievement and a harbinger of coming change. The message of the 2024 local elections was very clear: Voters wanted change. New faces emerged all over Turkey. A new generation of politicians took office, representing the demand for younger managers, more women and renewal in society. This result obviously created a serious rupture for the government. The political response that followed became increasingly incompatible with democratic competition, and politics began to move from the ballot box to the courtrooms.

MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS

Starting from 2025, a series of investigations have been launched targeting opposition municipalities, especially Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. İmamoğlu was arrested along with hundreds of municipal employees. More than 30 opposition mayors remain in custody or prison. İmamoğlu's university degree was cancelled, his social media account was blocked and finally his book was prevented from being published. His opportunities to properly defend himself in court were also limited. Investigations, lawsuits and censorship have increasingly become political tools to silence political opponents who cannot be defeated at the ballot box. Regardless of how justified these accusations are, the political consequence of the emerging situation is clear: The judiciary has increasingly become one of the areas where political competition is carried out.

ABSOLUTE NULL DECISION

This is not just a fight between political parties. The issue is whether elections can continue to be the main means of changing hands of political power in Turkey. Our people did not remain silent about this. During 2025 and 2026, Türkiye witnessed some of the biggest demonstrations of recent years. Our citizens filled the streets and squares all over the country. What they were defending was a right more fundamental than any political party: the right to decide who would govern them. Then the attack was directed directly at our party at the time, CHP. The 2023 congress of the CHP, for which I was elected chairman, was taken to the judiciary and was eventually canceled with an unprecedented judicial intervention. The previous administration was reinstated. Thus, a much more fundamental concern emerged: The opposition itself wanted to be reshaped in a way that would do politics within the boundaries drawn by the government. Our citizens did not accept this. This resistance first turned into a social movement, and then the NEW Party emerged.

"OUR AIM IS TO CLOSE A POLITICAL ERA THAT HAS ENDED ITS LIFE"

Our goal is clear: to close a political era that has exhausted Turkey and has reached the end of its life, and to open a new page in the history of our country. We are determined to change not only who governs Turkey, but also how politics is done. NEW Party is not a continuation of an existing political structure under another name. It will not be a closed structure managed by a narrow staff whose profession has become politics. Its members have a direct say; It is a new political movement established for citizens who want democracy, justice, prosperity and meritorious government. Our goal of power and what we will do are equally clear. We will restore the independence and reliability of the judiciary. We will strengthen the Parliament and re-establish balance and control mechanisms. We will restructure state institutions on the basis of merit, not personal loyalty. It will ensure stability and predictability in the economy; We will combine growth with social justice and equality of opportunity. It will strengthen local governments; We will pave the way for civil society, universities, professional organizations and citizens to participate more in public life.

"A DEMOCRATIC Türkiye MEANS A STRONGER EUROPE"

What Turkey needs is a state that is strong not because all the power is concentrated in a single authority, but because its institutions are strong. The same principle applies to foreign policy. Türkiye must be an effective power in its region and in the world. However, the way to achieve this is through consistency, strong institutions and strategic patience. Foreign policy is not about personal political calculations, self-made adventures or sudden changes of direction; It should be carried out in line with our national interests, professional expertise and a long-term strategy. This also has direct consequences for Germany. A democratic and economically stable Türkiye; It means a stronger Europe, a more reliable NATO ally and a country that contributes more to regional stability. We can no longer postpone the problems that have not been solved for years, including the Kurdish issue. Permanent solutions cannot be achieved through processes carried out behind closed doors and hidden from the public; Democratic politics is possible with transparency and broad social consensus. Social peace also requires a truly pluralistic environment.

"OUR MESSAGE IS CLEAR"

We must establish a Türkiye where journalists, academics, artists, business world, students, politicians, young people, civil society and different segments of society can participate in public life without pressure and fear. Peace and democracy must go together. Therefore, our goal is much bigger than winning an election. We want to revive our political institutions, combine economic growth with social justice, rebuild trust between citizens and the state, and establish a democratic order that can address our problems that have not been solved for years openly, together and peacefully. NEW Party was born in a difficult time. However, our policy will not be determined by resentment or anger, but by our faith in our country and our confidence in Turkey's future. Our message to Germany and Europe is clear: Turkey's destiny is not authoritarianism and polarization. A democratic renewal is possible. It is time for a new beginning for Türkiye.”