MILLIYET- Columnist Fikret Bila writes about the possibility of early elections and the views of various parties.
The three coalition party leaders met yesterday for the first time following this week's resignations from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) in order to discuss the prospect of early elections. While agreeing to continue with the coalition government, the three leaders all had different views about going to the polls. I spoke to Mr. Ecevit after the meeting. 'Personally I don't think early elections would be appropriate,' he said 'Mr. Yilmaz is also opposed to the idea. But Mr. Bahceli believes that, under the circumstances, early elections an absolute must. He was insistent on the date of Nov. 3 despite arguments from Mr. Yilmaz that if early elections are going to be held then they should be held in September so there's enough time to pass the necessary European Union accession laws. One thing that the leaders agreed on was to carry on with this government, and it looks likely that the elections will be held under this coalition. This doesn't mean, however, that debate on new government formations will come to an end. The latest possibility being considered is a coalition formed by the Motherland Party (ANAP) and the True Path Party (DYP) along with Husamettin Ozkan and his allies, with parliamentary support from the Justice and Development Party (AKP). But what does the leader of the DYP, Tansu Ciller, think about such a possibility? I asked her yesterday and this is what she said: 'Government scenarios are not our priority at the moment. Our priorities are early elections and the European Union. We believe that the Parliament should convene as soon as possible, before Sept. 1 even, and should pass the necessary laws. I've spoken to both Mr. Ecevit and Mr. Dervis and there are points, such as the Law on Elections, that we agree on.'
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION