Turkey's leftist Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP) renamed Left Party

Serkan Alan/ DUVAR

A conglomerate of Turkey's left fractions, The Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP) changed its name to Left Party (Sol Parti) at the party convention which took place last weekend.

"ÖDP was formed under different circumstances 23 years ago. We see that the goals we set then have been met, and must be readjusted," said Önder İşleyen, member of ÖDP's board. "The political Islamist regime can only be defeated with a leftist agenda and by turning the left into a political and social strength."

The changes in the party comes at a time of changing political dynamics with the defeat of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in many big cities in local elections of March 2019. AKP is deemed to have insufficient votes to win parliamentary majority outside of the "People's Coalition" with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

"We're at a critical crossroads. The AKP and MHP block has receded in local elections, but isn't yet defeated. This is a call to renew ourselves and to reorganize," said ÖDP board member Gizem Gül.

A manifesto was also read during the session to outline the newly titled Left Party's agenda, calling for the reinstatement of mayors who have been replaced and for a peaceful solution to the Kurdish problem.

The manifesto also called for the abandonment of "all contracts with imperialism," of "political İslamic dreams" and Syria. The manifesto also called for the dissolution of the current regime as well as the "reactionary organizations within the government."

The manifesto prompted the expropriation of all public assets as well as a solution to the country's unemployment issue. The manifesto urged the protection of the environment and of agriculture.