World

Early Election Set For Turkey

July 31, 2002 / 1:04 PM EDT / AP

Turkey's parliament voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to hold early elections in November, cutting short the tenure of ailing Premier Bulent Ecevit's troubled government by nearly 18 months.

In an emergency session, parliament voted 449 to 62 in favor of a proposal brought by nationalists in Ecevit's coalition government for elections on Nov. 3. The move passed despite the opposition of Ecevit, whose party apparently was the only one to vote as a bloc against early polls.

Ecevit has warned that elections could hurt Turkey's efforts to join the European Union — as well as damage the fragile economy and possibly bring an Islamic party to power. He has also warned against elections when a U.S.-led military action against neighboring Iraq could be looming.

But in the debate that preceded Wednesday's vote, opposition parties insisted polls were essential to remove a government blamed for a deep economic crisis that has caused mass layoffs and bankruptcies.

"The people have just one expectation — for this parliament to vote today to renew itself," said Nevzat Ercan of the main opposition True Path Party. "The nation no longer has confidence in this government."

"When a country goes into crisis ... the best solution is to hold an election," said Abdullah Gul of the pro-Islamic opposition Justice and Development Party, which is seen by many as the likeliest victor in a November poll.

Ecevit's coalition partners, as well as opposition parties, have said early polls will end political deadlock sparked by Ecevit's ill-health and his coalition allies' constant bickering over EU-oriented reforms, which are opposed by the coalition's nationalist wing.

"We are entrusting ourselves to the people, and requesting that they renew their trust in us," said Beyhan Aslan of the junior coalition partner, the Motherland Party.

Most parties in parliament have little faith that the ailing 77-year-old premier can hold his coalition together. Almost half of Ecevit's party has deserted him, showing no confidence in his ability to govern as he battles a series of illnesses.

The emergency session of parliament is also due to discuss reforms designed to steer Turkey closer to its long-term goal of EU membership.

Parliament committees were debating on Wednesday measures to replace the death penalty with life imprisonment and to legalize Kurdish-language broadcasts and education.

It was not clear if the measures would gain a majority in the full parliament, which is expected to debate them later this week. Many fear that once the decision is made to hold early elections, legislators will focus on campaigning and not the EU-oriented laws - some of which are likely to be controversial in an election campaign.