GURUN (A.A) - 12.07.2002 - State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, who also acts as leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said on Friday that during a period in which efforts have accelerated to create formations without Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and the MHP, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer should remain at a higher position amid recent political developments.
Responding questions of journalists, Bahceli that they were in favor of holding early elections in order to settle stability in Turkey once again.
''As the MHP having 125 deputies at the parliament, we want the early elections to be held on November 3, 2002. The 57th government should lead Turkey to the elections after its 30-month great and important services,'' he said.
Responding a question about resignation of State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy, Bahceli said, ''Turkey has been experiencing multi-party political life since 1946. During this process, Turkey has expended efforts to develop its democracy and to institutionalize its political parties. Today, Turkey has reached a significant stage in democracy. Our political parties have turned into institutions having their own traditions. Such actions can damage this structure. Dervis is a member of the Council of Ministers and the state minister in charge of treasury. Instead of fulfilling his duties, Dervis has been holding contacts on behalf of the new formation. I do not consider his action ethical. He should either fulfill his responsibilities as a member of the Council of Ministers, or resign from his post to carry out his contacts for the new formation. According to my point of view, there is not any difference between Dervis' remaining as a member of the Council of Ministers and his exclusion from the Council of Ministers. His marginal contribution has decreased to the minimum.''
When asked whether or not the government had lost its prestige, Bahceli said, ''Prime Minister Ecevit cracked a block and removed a part of the troika.''
''I do not think that the new formation would be successful. It is not a new formation, but a deviation from the DSP,'' he said.
When asked whether or not State Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz would withdraw from the government, Bahceli said, ''it is up to Mr. Yilmaz.''
Bahceli stressed that current government should continue its works till the elections.
Responding a question about President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's initiative to persuade State Minister Dervis to withdraw his resignation, Bahceli said, ''during a period in which efforts have accelerated to create formations without Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and the MHP, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer should stay at a higher position amid recent political developments. President Sezer should be impartial.''
BAHCELI: ''MR. DERVIS' MARGINAL CONTRIBUTION DECREASED TO THE MINIMUM''
Responding a question about resignation of Dervis, Bahceli said, ''in fact, there is not any difference between Dervis' remaining as a member of the Council of Ministers and his exclusion from the Council of Ministers. His marginal contribution has decreased to the minimum.''
When asked about resignations from the DSP, Bahceli said, ''it is not a new formation, but a deviation from the DSP.''