HURRIYET- Columnist Oktay Eksi comments on the request made by Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz last night. A summary of his column is as follows:
Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz put a new scenario card on the table yesterday. The trump card in Yilmaz’s hand was his statement that on behalf of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), Deputy Prime Minister and MHP leader Devlet Bahceli had applied to Constitutional Court claiming that six articles of this summer’s European Union harmonization package were contrary to the Constitution. First of all, let’s all recall that this scenario isn’t the first such one. In other words, the words spoken by Yilmaz yesterday recalled previous rumors that he was seeking to establish a government without either Ecevit or Bahceli due to Ecevit’s health problems. This scenario eventually caused the Democratic Left Party (DSP) to lose half of its seats in Parliament. This also caused the general elections, which Yilmaz and the other coalition leaders had reached a consensus to hold next April, to be scheduled for this November instead. Looking at the latest indicators of which party will face the most trouble in the early elections, one can even say that Yilmaz’s scenario was counterproductive and that it even seriously harmed ANAP itself. If this second undertaking goes awry, nobody should be surprised. When Yilmaz requests a government without the MHP and Ecevit, he isn’t basing his argument on firm ground because it’s impossible for the MHP to hinder the implementation of the EU laws that were passed. Everybody knows very well that applying to the Constitutional Court won’t hinder the implementation of a law. Moreover, it’s known that Ecevit published a circular so the regulations required by the EU laws will be completed before this Oct. 1 and implemented immediately. The request made by Yilmaz last night that the MHP, which he says constitutes an obstacle to Turkey’s EU bid, should withdraw from the government is actually against the traditions of Parliament. Because if he wants this government to be overthrown, ANAP’s withdrawal from the government might be sufficient as well. However, it’s clear that if Yilmaz overthrows the government, he is also afraid of the results of the instability that would ensue and therefore he’s passing the ball to somebody else. In short, it’s impossible to say or argue that Yilmaz is being sincere. Even if Yilmaz overthrows this government, the duty of establishing a new one should fall to Bahceli so that the president can believe that parties other than the MHP have a consensus to establish a government and that this government will get a vote of confidence. That government will live for 50-55 days, in other words, until the elections. Considering all this, one must ask Mr. Yilmaz: Is it worth it?
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION