MILLIYET- Columnist Fikret Bila writes about efforts by Motherland Party leader Mesut Yilmaz to form an alliance before elections in November. A summary of his column is as follows:
Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz has been meeting with other political party leaders to get support for legal amendments designed to enable political parties to form alliances before elections. However, it looks like it is going to be difficult for the parties to find common ground on this matter. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has made it clear that he is opposed to such alliances. Similarly, True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller is also against the idea. When we asked her about the subject she replied, ‘We want the public to form the alliance. And the only way to achieve such an alliance is with a two-round election system. Through a two-round election system, citizens will have the opportunity to vote for the party that is their second choice. This, we believe, is much better than forming artificial alliances that bear the risk of upsetting the delicate balances in Parliament.’ The approach of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) to alliances is no different. According to all the latest public opinion polls, the AKP will emerge from the elections as the largest party; so, it isn’t in need of any alliances. Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli doesn’t seem to have any worries about breaking through the 10 percent threshold either. This explains why he too isn’t keen on alliances. As for the Republican People’s Party (CHP), its leader Deniz Baykal seems certain that his party will emerge second in the elections. Baykal would like to see those people who believe in the potential of CHP and who are also looking for alliances, particularly Economy Minister Kemal Dervis, joining his party. New Turkey (YT) hasn’t accepted the idea of alliances either. In fact, according to reports, YT leader Ismail Cem told former President Suleyman Demirel that he didn’t think it was a good idea to form alliances. So the only party left is the Felicity Party (SP). SP leader Recai Kutan has not yet made his views clear on the matter. He just said that his party didn’t think an alliance was necessary but that they were still assessing the latest developments. It looks like ANAP leader Yilmaz has not found the support he had hoped for on the issue, but that doesn’t mean he has given up trying. DSP and CHP officials see Yilmaz’s efforts like this, ’Yilmaz fired before taking aim; first he supported the initiative to hold elections and then he started to ask for support on alliances. He should have looked to form his alliance before deciding on elections’.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION