This article lists the individuals to have served as Main Opposition Leader of Turkey (), since the inception of the republican period in 1923. The Main Opposition Leader is the leader of the largest political party in the Grand National Assembly that is not in cabinet.
Except for two brief periods (1924–25 and 1930), there were no opposition leaders in the one-party period. Furthermore, there were no opposition leaders during the periods of military dictatorships in the multi-party period (1960–61 and 1980–83).Türkiye’nin 75 yılı, Tempo, ;İstanbul, 1998Official page of prime minister Official page of the parliament
The Main Opposition Leader is a senior government official of Turkey, representing the state as the fourth most authoritative person, as per the order of precedence. It supersedes the Constitutional Court judges, cabinet ministers, and top military generals. The Turkish National Police provides dignitary protection for the incumbent holder of office.
List Portrait Name Party Term of office Head of government Took office Left office Time in officeOne-party period 1 Kâzım Karabekir Progressive Republican Party(TCF) 17 October 1924 3 June 1925 İsmet İnönüFethi OkyarOffice vacant (3 June 1925 – 12 August 1930) 2 Fethi Okyar Liberal Republican Party(SCF) 12 August 1930 17 November 1930 İsmet İnönüOffice vacant (17 November 1930 – 7 January 1946)Multi-party period 3 Celâl Bayar Democrat Party(DP) 7 January 1946 14 May 1950 Şükrü SaracoğluRecep PekerHasan SakaŞemsettin Günaltay 4 İsmet İnönü Republican People's Party(CHP) 22 May 1950 27 May 1960 Adnan MenderesOffice vacant (27 May 1960 – 20 November 1961) 5 Ekrem Alican New Turkey Party(YTP) 20 November 1961 25 June 1962 İsmet İnönü 6 Ragıp Gümüşpala Justice Party(AP) 25 June 1962 6 June 1964 İsmet İnönü 7 Süleyman Demirel Justice Party(AP) 6 June 1964 20 February 1965 İsmet İnönü 8 İsmet İnönü Republican People's Party(CHP) 20 February 1965 26 March 1971 Suat Hayri ÜrgüplüSüleyman Demirel 9 Süleyman Demirel Justice Party(AP) 26 January 1974 17 November 1974 Bülent Ecevit 10 Bülent Ecevit Republican People's Party(CHP) 31 March 1975 21 June 1977 Süleyman Demirel 11 Süleyman Demirel Justice Party(AP) 21 June 1977 21 July 1977 Bülent Ecevit 12 Bülent Ecevit Republican People's Party(CHP) 21 July 1977 5 January 1978 Süleyman Demirel 13 Süleyman Demirel Justice Party(AP) 5 January 1978 12 November 1979 Bülent Ecevit 14 Bülent Ecevit Republican People's Party(CHP) 12 November 1979 12 September 1980 Süleyman DemirelOffice vacant (12 September 1980 – 13 December 1983) 15 Necdet Calp Populist Party(HP) 13 December 1983 27 June 1985 Turgut Özal 16 Aydın Güven Gürkan Populist Party(HP) 27 June 1985 3 November 1985 Turgut Özal Social Democrat Populist Party(SHP) 3 November 1985 30 May 1986 17 Erdal İnönü 30 May 1986 20 November 1991 Turgut ÖzalYıldırım AkbulutMesut Yılmaz 18 Mesut Yılmaz Motherland Party(ANAP) 21 November 1991 6 March 1996 Süleyman DemirelTansu Çiller 19 Necmettin Erbakan Welfare Party(RP) 6 March 1996 28 June 1996 Mesut Yılmaz 20 Mesut Yılmaz Motherland Party(ANAP) 28 June 1996 30 June 1997 Necmettin Erbakan 21 Necmettin Erbakan Welfare Party(RP) 30 June 1997 17 December 1997 Mesut Yılmaz 22 İsmail Alptekin Virtue Party(FP) 17 December 1997 14 May 1998 Mesut Yılmaz 23 Recai Kutan Virtue Party(FP) 14 May 1998 22 June 2001 Mesut YılmazBülent Ecevit 24 Tansu Çiller True Path Party(DYP) 22 June 2001 19 November 2002 Bülent Ecevit 25 Deniz Baykal Republican People's Party(CHP) 19 November 2002 22 May 2010 Abdullah GülRecep Tayyip Erdoğan 26 Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu Republican People's Party(CHP) 22 May 2010 5 November 2023 Recep Tayyip ErdoğanAhmet DavutoğluBinali Yıldırım 27 Özgür Özel Republican People's Party(CHP) 8 November 2023 21 May 2026 Recep Tayyip Erdoğan 28 Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu Republican People's Party(CHP) 21 May 2026 24 July 2026 Recep Tayyip Erdoğan 29 Özgür Özel New Party(YEP) 24 July 2026 Incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Notes
Timeline
See also Politics of Turkey Government of Turkey Grand National Assembly of Turkey Speaker of the Grand National Assembly
References