After Özgür Özel was elected as the Chairman of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) in 2023, Gülseren Onanç authored an article examines transformational leadership in times of crisis, framing Özel’s rise as a response to Turkey’s urgent need for ethical, compassionate, and unifying leadership. Two years later, we decided to republish it in English, as we believe it offers valuable insights into the reasons behind the success of Özgür Özel, who has become a symbol of hope for change in Turkey.
As we commemorate the 85th anniversary of Atatürk’s passing, we all speak of how great a leader he was. As someone who has long reflected on what leadership truly means, if I had to choose the three most important among Atatürk’s many leadership qualities, I would say: his strong ethical values, sincerity, and his ability to be a team player. Of course, the fact that he embodied so many leadership traits at once, such as courage, vision, determination, resilience, and intellectual depth, places Atatürk among the rarest of leaders in world history. I consider it a great fortune that the Republic of Turkey had such a leader.
I begin with this reflection on Atatürk, the founding leader and longtime chair of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), to share some thoughts about the leadership qualities expected of Özgür Özel, recently elected as the party’s 8th Chairperson. With this article, I hope to help a wider public recognise the leadership potential I see in my dear friend Özgür Özel, whom I respect and admire.
I began wondering what it means to be a leader from a very young age. I felt a powerful urge to serve something larger than myself and believed I had to develop leadership skills to do so. But that path was blocked when the 1980 coup occurred during my teenage years. As a woman from the apolitical 1980s generation, I followed my own path. Over the past 30 years, I’ve been active in business, civil society, and politics, always searching for leaders who could inspire me. I learned that leaders are not born but made, so I joined academic leadership programmes to strengthen those skills.
Transformational and Adaptive Leadership
Harvard University is home to some of the most respected leadership studies in the world. Its Kennedy School of Government (HKS) named after the legendary U.S. President John F. Kennedy, advances an approach called transformational and adaptive leadership. It argues that in the 21st century, the world needs leaders who can drive transformation and adapt to uncertainty and chaos.
It suggests that to tackle the dangers facing the world, including democratic backsliding, the rise of authoritarian regimes, polarisation, migration, poverty, gender inequality, and the climate crisis, we must embrace transformational and adaptive leadership.
Participants in HKS programmes aim to strengthen these leadership capacities. I’ve been fortunate to attend twice. These programmes offer roadmaps for leaders engaging in organised, political efforts to address today’s global challenges. Politicians and public servants come from all over, from China to Colombia, Brazil to Saudi Arabia, Kenya to Indonesia, to receive such training.
Traits of Transformational and Adaptive Leaders
So, who are transformational leaders? In a broad sense, they are those who, even in difficult times, can foster a shared spirit of solidarity for the future, unite their organisation, and build relationships grounded in mutual respect and trust. They are strong team players.
Their role is not easy or safe. Transformational leaders argue that the existing system must change. They question long-standing norms and values. In times of uncertainty, they challenge people’s dependencies, habits, and ways of thinking. They disrupt institutional balances. As a result, such leaders often face resistance; efforts arise to harm, marginalise, or eliminate them.
Leadership Change in the CHP
Turning to the leadership change within the CHP, we see exactly this kind of transformational leadership moment. On the centenary of our Republic, many believed the 2023 elections would mark the end of the Islamist-conservative-nationalist People’s Alliance that had been in power for 21 years and had severely damaged democracy, secularism, and individual freedoms.
But after the opposition’s defeat, someone had to take responsibility. None of the leaders involved provided the self-criticism, analysis, or hopeful new path forward that was so badly needed.
“It felt like a death, though no one had died“
Just like in famous Turkish poet Özdemir Asaf’s poem, famously sung by Kaan Tangöze: “IIt felt like a death, though no one had died.” No one took responsibility, no one was held accountable, no one apologised. This attitude among politicians bred apathy, hopelessness, and alienation among voters. And it risked defeat in the 2024 local elections.
I have known and respected Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, the CHP’s presidential candidate, since 2010. I worked with him for eight years on the Party Council and briefly as a deputy chair. I was certain he would resign after the election loss. I thought he would acknowledge what Özgür Özel called the “emotional break” among CHP voters and step aside due to exhaustion. I was wrong.
The Right Time for Transformational Leadership
Moments like these are when transformational leaders must step forward. And they did: Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and CHP Parliamentary Group Chair Özgür Özel began publicly calling for change.
Of the two, I know Özgür more personally and can confidently say that he embodies the transformational leadership traits.
In this difficult period, Özgür Özel succeeded in uniting most of the CHP organisation around a shared vision for change. As he often says, he built relationships based on trust and respect, and acted as a true team player. For some, what happened in the party was nothing short of a revolution.
My Friend Özgür
I now want to share my thoughts as someone who has known Özgür for more than ten years, who has fought alongside him for a shared ideal, and who believes he has long been ready to lead the CHP.
While a tough leadership test lies ahead, I believe Özgür will overcome it. Here’s why:
Ethical values: Özgür was raised by schoolteacher parents in an environment of strong ethics. When many of us encouraged him to run against Kılıçdaroğlu, he believed it would be wrong to challenge him unless Kılıçdaroğlu voluntarily stepped aside. He knows that rivals are not enemies, and that dignity must be preserved after the race.
Comradeship based on trust: Özgür can build rare relationships grounded in trust. I believe many people see Ekrem İmamoğlu’s influence in this victory because of the deep bond of solidarity they share. Those who call this “acting as a proxy” fail to grasp the true nature of their alliance.
Sincerity and authenticity: One of Özgür’s finest qualities is the childlike innocence that still shines in his eyes. He hasn’t let his political positions change who he is. He remains free and authentic, and that’s rare.
Compassion: As a leader, he is deeply compassionate. He took on the pain of the miners in Soma, who faced a devastating mining disaster in 2014 that claimed 301 lives as his own, standing with their families in their long struggle for justice. He also carries in his heart the sorrow of those unjustly imprisoned in Turkey and the suffering of their loved ones. He is a politician with a big heart, guided by empathy as much as principle.
Commitment to gender equality: As someone who has lived the male-dominated nature of politics firsthand, I’ve seen many claim equality but not practice it. Özgür, supported by his wife and daughter, can build truly equal relationships with women. That’s why more women will likely gather around him.
I am happy to witness that Özgür Özel, the new leader of the CHP, is a transformational leader who will help rekindle hope in Turkey.
I’m proud of my friend Özgür and wish him every success on this challenging journey.
This article is the translation of the piece originally published in Turkish on November 10, 2023. Two years later, we decided to republish it in English, as we believe it offers valuable insights into the reasons behind the success of Özgür Özel, who has become a symbol of hope for change in Turkey.
Gülseren Onanç