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Replacing
Three Ministers, Turkish PM Rejects Resignation, Early Polls
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Ozkan, left, and
Ecevit. |
ANKARA,
July 9 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – After replacing three
ministers who had resigned, Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit,
whose shaky three-party coalition risks collapse amid severe political
turmoil, does not plan to step down or call early elections,
opposition leader Tansu Ciller said Tuesday, July 9, 2002.
"He
(Ecevit) told me that he did not consider resigning at this
point," Ciller, the chairwoman of the main opposition True Path
Party (DYP), told reporters after talks with the Prime Minister,
reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Ciller
added that Ecevit, 77, also expressed his desire to hold elections on
schedule in 2004, in defiance of mounting pressure to hold an early
poll.
“He
also said that he wanted general elections to take place on
schedule," she said.
In
an apparent sign he has no plans to step down, Ecevit, earlier
Tuesday, replaced three ministers who resigned, according to NTV news
channel reported.
The
77-year-old PM, away from his office for two months because of health
problems, has been under mounting pressure to retire to avoid a major
political crisis.
The
resignation of several ministers since Monday sparked speculation that
they may be on the verge of trying to form their own government as
Ecevit's grip on power appears to slip away.
NTV
said Ecevit tapped State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, who held the
Cyprus affairs portfolio, to replace his former right-hand man
Husamettin Ozkan, the deputy Prime Minister who led the rebellion
Monday.
The
resignation of Ozkan, once a key Ecevit ally in the Prime Minister's
Democratic Left Party (DSP), led to several other key resignations,
sending shockwaves through Turkey's political landscape.
Ozkan
submitted his resignation from his position in the government as well
as in the Democratic Left Party after a dispute between him and Ecevit.
Half
an hour after he submitted his resignation, the Minister of Culture
Istameeh Khan Talai and the Minister of Finance Rajab Onal both
submitted a complaint to Ecevit and his wife for pressurizing Ozkan to
submitting his resignation.
Ozkan’s
resignation came after criticisms were directed at him from Ecevit and
his deputy Imrah Khan Haligi, who both accused him of silence and not
taking appropriate steps to stop the ferocious campaign against the
Turkish Prime Minister.
Imrah
Khan said: “Ozkan has a prominent position in the party and he
should have responded to this unfair campaign.”
Ozkan
issued a written statement after announcing his resignation explaining
that the reason behind the resignation is the political mystery and
instability in the government. He added that he has been dedicated in
working next to Ecevit and that his committed to the principles of the
party for the last 10 years.
Turkish
political analysts and Turkish media said that nearly 42 to 45 members
of the party affiliated to Ozkan are also expected to resign from the
party these include the Minster of Education.
On
Tuesday, Hassan Jamgi, another minister also quit, making him the
fifth minister to quit the party and the 26th member of party to quit.
This makes the Democratic party the second in position in the Turkish
parliament and making him lose the majority of seats which made him
qualified to lead the current government.
In
light of the latest resignations, the National Movement Party (NMP)
became the party with the parliamentary majority, holding 127 seats
and the decision to keep the government holding or call early
elections.
Adding
salt to injury, Ecevit also came under surprise pressure from his
coalition partners - Devlet Bahceli of the far-right Nationalist
Action Party and Mesut Yilmaz of the Motherland Party - who both
expressed support for early elections later this year.
Ecevit
has been ill since early May with a long list of ailments which kept
him away from his office, triggering fears of a major political
upheaval that could derail vital economic reforms backed by the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) and impede efforts to join the
European Union.
Additional
Reporting by Saad Abdul Majid, IOL Turkey Correspondent
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