Bahceli: Prime Minister Should Take Decision Of Withdrawal From Government

MALATYA (A.A) - 13.07.2002 - Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said on Saturday that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, as the head of the government, should take a decision of withdrawal from the government in case the number of deputies of coalition parties necessitated a discussion of vote of confidence.
Responding to questions of reporters, Bahceli said, ''I think that the Prime Minister will make an evaluation. It is not right to open to discussion the legitimacy of a government which has lost its support at the parliament.''
When a reporter reminded him about the meeting between Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and former Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan, Bahceli said that it was not right to comment on contacts of Ecevit.
Asked if a response was made to his call to deputies who had resigned from the Democratic Left Party (DSP), Bahceli said that they tried to tell what they believed.
Bahceli noted that intrigues were being made on the current government and claimed that some circles wanted to dissolute the government with their international relations.
''Should the political will be changed by the will of the nation or should it be changed by the actions of some narrow circles in line with their own interests,'' Bahceli asked.
Bahceli stated that if there was democracy in the country, the determining element of political power was the elections and the will of the nation and said, ''we want the DSP members to be careful if there is such an intrigue.''
When again reminded statements of Yilmaz that he expended support to the new formations, Bahceli said it was Yilmaz's preference. Bahceli said, ''in the course of the developments, he is a separate legal personality. He is the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP). We are evaluating the political developments according to our point of view, and Yilmaz will of course make the evaluations from the point of himself and his party.''
Responding to a question, ''how long will this last. Doesn't Mr. Yilmaz have to make a decision soon,'' Bahceli said, ''We should not leave Turkey into the chain of incidents in a way that will drag Turkey to more political chaos. As a precautionary measure, we found it more appropriate to apply to the will of the nation on November 1.''
Bahceli said Turkey could again reach a stable political structure soon in case a decision is issued from the Parliament for early elections.
When recalled that the government would lose majority in case resignations increase in Democratic Left Party (DSP), ''will your withdrawal be on the agenda in this case,'' Bahceli said, ''our Prime Minister should decide whether or not to withdraw from the government.''
''It is not right to open a government, which lost support in the parliament, into discussion from the point of legitimacy,'' Bahceli noted.
BAHCELI SAYS HE CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY NEW FORMATION FEEL A NECESSITY TO LEAVE THEIR PARTY
Bahceli said ''I cannot understand why the group which is named as the new formation today, feel a necessity to come together in this new formation rather than being more efficient and fruitful in the current government.''
When a reporter reminded him about the statement of Motherland Party (ANAP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz who said, ''he could extend support to new formations for the European Union (EU)'', Bahceli said that there wasn't anything to comment on.
When a reporter reminded him that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that his party was ranked the third party in the parliament after the resignations and noted, ''he could withdraw from the government but that Bahceli did not want this,'' Bahceli said that the protocol of the 57th government stated that a decrease or increase in number of deputies would not have an effect on structure of government.
Bahceli stated that they were loyal to principles of the protocol.
When reporters said there were allegations that, ''State Minister Kemal Dervis was included both in the new formation and was a government member, and that in that case those discussed in Council of Ministers could be leaked, and that some issues could not be discused in the Council of Ministers from now on,'' Bahceli said if any person, who is a member of the Council of Ministers, also has relations with the new formations apart from the 57th government, he should clarify his personal tendency. Pointing out that those two could not exist together, Bahceli said this would not be appropriate and that he did not find this ethical.
When a reporter said, ''Mesut Yilmaz said he was pleased over staying of Kemal Dervis in government. What will be your reaction,'' Bahceli said he pointed out his views with respect to a healthy government working, stressing that it was Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's appreciation.
A journalist said Ismail Cem, who resigned from his office as foreign minister and the DSP told a news conference that slogan of the new party they would set up was ''Contemporary Mayority'', and asked about his views, Bahceli said every formation felt the need to express itself with a concept, noting that it will be seen in the future what was meant by this concept.
''The group which was revealed as the new formation today, is comprised of many DSP members, some of who worked as ministers in the 57th government. The 57th government was set up on May 28 following April 1999 elections. Those people made important services in the 57th government. Why did they feel the need to set up a new formation although they could make their services more productive and influential in the 57th government with the accumulations and the experience they have obtained so far, I have difficulty in comprehending this,'' he said.
Bahceli said, ''they should explain the Turkish nation their attitude in leaving the post basing on the assumption that nothing was put forth when they were in office, and being after a new formation.''