Party Pulls Out of Turkey Coalition

Former Prime Minister Tansu Ciller’s party pulled out of Turkey’s ruling coalition today.

The government’s collapse could give another shot at power to the increasingly influential pro-Islamic Welfare Party, whose philosophy has worried Turkey’s Western allies.

Ciller called the government “practically and legally” finished, the Anatolia news agency reported Friday from Madrid. Her True Path Party’s executive body formalized the break early today after she arrived in Ankara, the capital.

The decision came shortly after President Suleyman Demirel announced that he would not take sides in the nation’s political deadlock.

Ciller is the subject of corruption probes based on allegations by the Welfare Party and backed by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, her coalition partner.

In March, Ciller and Yilmaz agreed to overlook their deep rivalry and form an alliance to block Welfare from government. Welfare, which opposes Turkey’s Western-looking policies, led elections but failed to get a majority of parliamentary seats.

Because of True Path’s decision today, Yilmaz will have to submit his resignation and allow the president to designate a party leader to try to form a new government. By political tradition, Demirel should give the first chance to Welfare.

Welfare promotes an Islamic regime and closer ties with Muslim countries. The party is strongly opposed by Turkey’s military and other backers of the nation’s secular traditions.

Some political analysts suggested that Ciller will join forces with Welfare in a bid to halt the corruption investigations. Newspapers reported that True Path is negotiating with Welfare to form a coalition.

But Welfare also could seek an alliance with Yilmaz’s Motherland Party.