Ecevit claims big victory

Press, 14 December 1977, Page 8

Ecevit claims big victory

NZPA-Reuter Ankara; The leader of the Turkish Opposition ( Mr Bulent Ece;vit) has claimed a big vic-; Story in local elections throughout Turkey that saw a surge of political violence. The unofficial results gave Mr Ecevit’s Republican People’s Party control of 42 of Turkey’s 67 cities. Mr Suleyman Demirel’s ruling Justice Party lost at least seven cities. After the last local elections in 1973, the R.P.P. controlled 33 cities, and the U.P. 22. In national politics, the R.P.P. is the biggest single group in the 450-seat Lower House with 214 members, and the J.P.-led coalition Government, reduced by the resignation of two M.P.s on Monday, now musters 225 votes.

Mr Ecevit told a conference in Ankara: “People i need a change of Government, and the election results have proved it.” The ultra-Rightist National Movement Party, a junior partner in Mr Demirel’s coalition Government, also made strong gains in the polls, winning in five cities in central and eastern Turkey. The death toll from political violence has increased to 12. Local officials have confirmed the deaths of two more persons in the northern town of Rize, where they were wounded on Monday. Two more men have died in the eastern town of Serik of injuries suffered on Monday when rival groups clashed.