Is it possible for a political party to rise from disagreements? Let’s explore the story of the Zafer Partisi Genel Merkezi. This is where the Victory Party makes its plans. Here, in Ankara, the Zafer Partisi formulates its policies.
The Victory Party emerged on August 26, 2021. It was founded by Ümit Özdağ. He had disagreements with other Turkish parties. These included corruption allegations. He also cited refugee policies of the ruling AKP. The Victory Party called this “strategic demographic engineering”. Özdağ mentioned “anti-democratic approaches” by the İYİ Party. His feuds with the MHP and CHP also played a role.
Özdağ wanted to form a Turkish nationalism motto. It followed the lines of Atatürk. The founding petition was submitted to the Interior Ministry.
Ümit Özdağ once favored Mansur Yavaş for president. Yavaş was Ankara’s mayor. But Yavaş said he wasn’t a candidate. Özdağ admitted he hadn’t consulted Yavaş. He claimed informing Yavaş would have been a plot.
The Homeland Party once discussed an alliance with the Victory Party. The Democratic Left Party, True Party, and Justice Party were also involved. But Muharrem İnce left these negotiations.
In March 2023, the Ancestral Alliance formed. The Victory Party joined the Justice Party and others. They endorsed Sinan Oğan for president. He finished third in the first round. The Victory Party got 2.23% of the vote. It did not pass the electoral threshold. In the second round, Özdağ and his party supported Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
Talks arose about Özdağ becoming Interior Minister. This was if Kılıçdaroğlu won. Both parties agreed on a seven-point memorandum. However, Sinan Oğan supported Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Initially, the Victory Party had two MPs: Ümit Özdağ and İsmail Koncuk. Later, Koncuk rejoined the İYİ Party. Özdağ remained until his party failed to enter parliament in 2023. The Ancestral Alliance dissolved soon after.
Ümit Özdağ faced Süleyman Soylu in 2022. Özdağ criticized Soylu on television. He said he would wait for Soylu at the Interior Ministry. The police blocked Özdağ. His statements increased the party’s visibility.
A banner appeared on the Victory Party’s Fatih District Directorate. It read “Domestic and National Escobar”. It also had a bald head image. The Prosecutor’s Office removed it. They said it insulted a public official.
Ümit Özdağ criticized Devlet Bahçeli in 2023. He called him “an agent”. A MHP official criticized Özdağ’s father. He accused him of betraying Alparslan Türkeş. He said Bahçeli made Özdağ a deputy hoping “maybe he will be a man”.
The Victory Party’s board members include key figures. Ümit Özdağ is Chairperson. Cezmi Polat is General Secretary. Şükrü Sina Gürel directs Foreign Policy. Mehmet Alagöz handles Development Policies. These leaders shape the party’s direction.
The Victory Party anthem is “Kutlu Olsun”. It translates to “May it be blessed”. This song encapsulates the party’s spirit.
Here at the Zafer Partisi Genel Merkezi, the spirit of Turkish nationalism continues.