Demirel tries to form new Ankara Govt

Press, 6 July 1977, Page 9

Demirel tries to form new Ankara Govt

'NZPA-Rsuter Ankara ; The former Prime Minister (Mr Suleyman Demirel, has jbeen asked to form a new Government after the resignation of Mr Bulent Ecevit’s t w o-w e e k-old minority Social Democrat Government in Turkey. Mr Ecevit took over as Prime Minister for Mr Demirel after the General Election on June 21. but lost his (first bid for a Parliamentary vote of confidence by 229 votes to 217 on Sunday. President Fahri Koroturk asked Mr Demirel to form a Government. He was expected to try to renew his Right-wing coalition, which took power in March, 1975. j At that time another GovI eminent formed by Mr Ece'vit had collapsed after only (eight months in power. I The Right-wing coalition ! partners are expected to] ;comprise the Islamic Nat-; (ional Salvation Party, the ; Nationalist Movement Party I 'and Mr Demirel’s Justice 1 'Party. Many Turkish business, ■ and professional leaders are] (apprehensive about the; (chances of such a coalition’s] ■agreeing on effective policies; to resolve the country’s; pressing problems. There have been wide-' spread rumours that some of the publicly silent military chiefs also doubt whether the coalition could act firmly to ease a critical bal-ance-of-payments deficit

halt the spread of political; violence. Mr Ecevit’s R.P.P. holds, ■ 214 seats in the National Assembly; Mr Demirel’s Justice Party 189. i Mr Ecevit told a news (conference that obvious Par-] !liame n t a r y arithmetic; (showed that any Govern-] ■ ment formed without his ] party's support could not be; valid or realistic. ■ Mr Ecevit, whose Republican People’s Party is the | biggest group in Parliament, (will remain caretaker Prime :; Minister until a new Government can be formed. Mr ■ ‘Demirel has said this will not be within 10 days. Turkey’s political uncer-; • tainty coincides with : serious economic problems! and rising violence between 1 ■ Left Bight. 1