Ousted opposition leader Ozgur Ozel has resigned from Turkey's main opposition party alongside 90 other lawmakers to form a new political movement.
The former leader of the Republican People's Party, known as the CHP, signed his resignation papers and official founding documents for the group on Friday.
The new political group will be called "Yeni Parti", which translates to New Party.
Official paperwork to establish the party is scheduled to be submitted to the interior ministry around midday.
The departure of 91 lawmakers reshapes the layout of the 600-seat Turkish parliament, making the Yeni Parti the second largest group in the Grand National Assembly.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party remains the largest group with 277 seats.
The historic CHP, which previously held 135 seats as the principal opposition force, has seen its parliamentary representation drop to 44 seats.
This shift leaves the party in fourth place, behind the pro-Kurdish opposition DEM party, which holds 56 seats.
The decision follows a court ruling two months ago that removed Ozgur Ozel as leader of the CHP and restored his predecessor Kemal Kilicdaroglu to power.
The judicial intervention sparked widespread anger among party supporters, who viewed the court action as a political manoeuvre designed to weaken opposition forces.
Ankara judges had annulled the 2023 leadership election following allegations of vote-buying, raising concerns over judicial independence in the country.
Although Ozgur Ozel launched a legal appeal, procedural delays meant the case did not reach the Supreme Court before the summer judicial recess.
Earlier in the week, Ozgur Ozel told lawmakers that Turkey had reached a critical point and expressed confidence in the new party's future.
He described the move to establish a new political force as taking on a risky burden for the sake of the nation.
Under his leadership, the CHP enjoyed significant success in recent local elections, winning major municipalities across the country.
However, the party has faced growing legal challenges, with numerous local officials detained on corruption allegations.
Among those facing legal pressure is Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is widely considered a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Dozens of elected local mayors remain in custody as legal proceedings against opposition officials continue across the country.
