In May this year, police in Ankara stormed the headquarters of the Republican People’s party (CHP), the oldest political party in Turkey. Officers used teargas to enforce a controversial appeal court decision that reinstated the CHP’s 77-year-old former leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu – seen as less of a threat to the ruling Justice and Development party (AKP). CHP members aligned with Kılıçdaroğlu’s successor, Özgür Özel, placed furniture at the building’s entrance, creating a barrier to prevent police from entering. It didn’t work. Hours later, party members loyal to Özel were physically removed from the premises.

Entering the offices of Turkey’s leading opposition party in such a fashion was a spectacular act with historic consequences. Last Friday, Özel and 90 CHP deputies resigned from their party and declared the founding of the New (Yeni) party. The CHP had served as Turkey’s main opposition since 2002. But not any longer: with the exodus of members to the New party, the CHP is reduced to just 44 legislators in the 600-seat parliament, its third smallest party out of seven.

Over the past week, Turkey’s new main opposition, with its 91 legislators, enjoyed strong winds in its sails. Throughout Turkish political history, those who have suffered legal injustices have gone on to benefit from them at the ballot box. In 1999, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan himself spent four months in prison. Four years later, he was prime minister. If managed well, the ousting of Özel from the CHP will probably boost the popularity of Turkey’s progressives overall.

But what of the CHP itself? This is the party Mustafa Kemal Atatürk founded in 1923, which played a crucial role in establishing the modern republic of Turkey. In the past 18 months, it has witnessed a stunning reversal of fortunes.

At Turkey’s........

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