Ecevit’s Decision

BY FIKRET BILA
MILLIYET- During yesterday’s Democratic Left Party (DSP) convention, DSP leader Bulent Ecevit told the assembled members that he wouldn’t stand as a candidate for leadership again. So Ecevit, whose impact on Turkey has been felt for nearly a half century, is ending his active political life of his own free will. Obviously he will continue his intellectual contribution to the DSP as their ‘leader emeritus.’ When I spoke to Ecevit after he announced his decision, he warned me of two dangers:
1) Ataturk’s revolutions and principles, and our Republic’s secular character, are being threatened.
2) Turkey is in a very dangerous process in its foreign policy, especially concerning the Middle East.
Ecevit believes that political grit and determination are necessary to face these two dangers. He emphasized his concern about the US’ Iraq occupation and subsequent developments. Stating that the US’ Middle East and Iraq policy had caused Turkey many troubles, Ecevit said that Ankara should step very carefully on this issue.
As for the reasons for the one-year delay in his decision to step down [after the November 2002 elections, when his formerly ruling party was shut out of Parliament], he resisted efforts for his ouster from the DSP helm and his duty as the prime minister, particularly during his illness of May 2002. ‘During this time I experienced many impositions,’ he told me. ‘I had the responsibility of the Prime Ministry. I was facing a kind of conspiracy. For this reason, it was necessary to foil this scheme.’
This process caused the DSP to split into two. The Ecevit family reacted against the exploitation of his sickness for political ends. Ecevit will relinquish his leadership following the party’s convention to be held after next year’s local elections. However, Ecevit and his wife Rahsan will continue to share their experiences with the DSP and help them in setting party policy.