CUMHURIYET- Columnist Mustafa Balbay writes on political developments expected this week regarding early elections proposed for Nov. 3 and on possible scenarios surrounding this. A summary of his column is as follows:
We hope that the thick fog hanging over Ankara will be lifted this week. However, Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit’s meeting with Nationalist Action Party (MHP) Chairman and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli yesterday created yet more question marks about what is going to happen. It is obvious that Ecevit is not in favor of early elections, but neither is he dead set on canceling them at the price of a deeper political uncertainty. Nevertheless, it’s very likely that Ecevit will keep looking for a maneuver to head off early elections. Today’s DSP group meeting in Parliament will shed some light on these question marks. After the coalition partners’ early election decision taken at their meeting on July 16, several journalists believe that there are two fronts, one rallying for early elections and the other standing against them. In the former are the MHP and the True Path Party (DYP). Among the ranks of the counter front, the DSP’s position is the most outspoken. The Felicity Party (SP) is also in this group as it is not ready for early elections. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) has laid plans for either contingency, but it will surely be more successful than the SP if early elections are held on Nov. 3. In contrast the New Turkey’s (YT) attitude is relatively unformed as it has so far been unable to put together a coherent framework. On the other hand, there is also the possibility that the YT may not take advantage of elections in a more distant future. Under this week’s circumstances, a postponement of early elections would not bother the YT greatly.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION