Gursel Elected To Presidency

Press, Volume C, Issue 29656, 28 October 1961, Page 11

Gursel Elected To Presidency

(NX Pres* Assn.— Copyright) ANKARA, October 27. General Cemal Gursel, leader of the military junta which withdrew the Government of Mr Adnan Menderes, was elected President of Turkey yesterday. He is expected to name a Prime Minister soon. Already the names of the present Foreign Minister (Mr Salin Sarper) and the leader of the New Turkey Party (Mr Ekrem Alican) have been mentioned.

The Prime Minister named by General Gursel is expected to form a coalition government containing members from ail four parties, the British United Press said. No single party won a majority in the recent general election and the military leaders have insisted on a national coalition. The former President, Mr Ismet Inonu. was sworn in as acting President of Parliament on Wednesday. President of both houses were to be elected today. Voting by Deputies A total of 607 Senators and National Assembly Deputies took part in the presidential voting. The 434 votes in favour of General Gursel gave him a clear majority for election in the first ballot, Reuter reported. The temporary chairman of the house, Mr Karaoe

Mamoglu. then went out to bring General Gursel to the Assembly to take the oath of office. The new Preaident is elected for a seven-year term under the constitution approved by the country in a referendum last July. General Gursel had played Ettie part in politics before last year’s coup, when he announced his aim was to "leed Turkey back to democracy.” Although he rose steadily in the Army until he became Supreme Commander of Land Forces in 1958, bis name was rarely mentioned outside Army circles. The first elections under the new constitution were held on October 15. They came after the 11-month long trial of leaders of the former Democratic regime, at Yasside. and the sentencing to death and

execution of three of ita former leaders—Mr Menderea, the Foseiaa Minuter (Mr Fatin Rustu Zorlu) and the Finance MlaMer (Mr Hasan Potatkan). Thirteen other former Democratic Party supporters, including the former President (Mr Cetol Bayer) were atoo sentenced to death, but their sentence* were commuted to Ute imprisonment with bard labour.