Mesut Yilmaz Resigns From His Post As Anap Leader

ANKARA - Mesut Yýlmaz resigned from his post as Motherland Party (ANAP) leader on Wednesday night.
Yýlmaz resigned from his post during the ANAP Central Decision and Executive Board meeting in line with his decision to resign both from ANAP leadership and active politics following Nov. 3 elections.
Following the resignation of Yýlmaz, Ekrem Pakdemirli was elected as the acting ANAP leader. Pakdemirli was the single candidate for this post.
The third extraordinary congress of ANAP is decided to take place on January 11, 2003 in order to elect its new leader and Central Decision and Executive Board.
Sources said Yýlmaz told in the meeting that ANAP was not successful in the elections as elections were held before taking the results of the economic programme implemented by the coalition government. The difficulty caused by the economic programme in the society showed itself as a reaction to the coalition parties in the elections.
The conjuncture will change and it will turn to the advantage of ANAP, said Yýlmaz noting that ''ANAP in fact lost the elections when MHP leader Devlet Bahceli called for early elections.''