NEW TURKISH P.M.

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32567, 29 March 1971, Page 15

NEW TURKISH P.M.

(N.Z. P. A.-Reuter-—Copy right) ANKARA, March 28. Turkey’s new Prime Minister (Dr Nihat Erim) has formed a coalition Government aimed at pushing reforms through Parliament and restoring political confidence. The Cabinet of 25 politicians replaces the government of Mr Suleyman Demiral, who was ousted, after almost six years of office, when the armed forces threatened to take over the country unless a strong new Administration was formed. Fourteen members of Dr Erim’s Cabinet are experts appointed from outside Parliament, the remainder being drawn from the three principal parties and independent politicians. Dr Erim’s aim has been to meet the armed forces’ demand two weeks ago for a reformist government above party interests. Informed sources say that he appears to have succeeded in this, although it might cause him Parliamentary difficulties in the months to come. TIME-LIMIT The new Prime Minister, who is 59, must present his programme to Parliament within one week, and this, in turn, must receive a vote of confidence.

While Mr Demirel’s conservative Justice Party has five members in the Cabinet, compared with three from the Opposition Republican People’s Party, the real strength in the team lies with the Republicans and Independents. Dr Erim resigned from his Republican Party to stand as an independent Prime Minister. However, Mr Sadi Kocas, the new Deputy Prime Minister, is a serving Republican. Mr Kocas, who is 52, a political moderate and a

former colonel in the Army, will have special responsibility for political and administrative affairs, and is expected to play a vital role in liaison between Parliament and the armed forces in the coming months. "OUTSIDERS” The Minister of the Interior (Mr H a m d i Tmeroglu) and Minister of Education (Mr Sinasi Orel), are both drawn from outside Parliament. They will have a key role to play in educa-

tional reforms and suppressing student agitation of the type which rocked the Demirel government.

Fourteen of the total of 25 Cabinet members are experts in their fields outside Parliament.

Of the eleven from inside, to give the Cabinet a coalition flavour, five are from Mr Demirel’s Justice Party, three from the Republican People’s Party of Mr Ismet Inonu, and one from the smaller National Trust Party. The remaining two are Independents. Despite earlier fears after the armed forces’ ultimatum that the Army would force its own candidates on Dr Erim, only four of the Cabinet are former Army officers. President Sunary has called on all political leaders to give unconditional support to Dr Erim, whose Government and programme must secure a vote of confidence in the National Assembly. The defence portfolio goes to Mr Ferit Melen, a member of the moderate National Trust Party, and, as a former Minister of Finance, the only former Cabinet member from any party in the new Cabinet. The first woman Cabinet member is a professor of medicine, Mrs Turkay Akyol, aged 42, who becomes Minister of Health.

Mr Hamdo Omerogly, a former governor of the provincial capital of Samsun, becomes Minister of the Interior, and will share responsibilities for vital law and order issues with Mr Melen.