Parliament Gives Nod to Early Elections
TURKEY
*
After months of political turmoil, Turkey’s parliament voted overwhelmingly to hold early general elections Nov. 3, despite the strong objections of ailing Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.
The vote to hold elections 18 months early sets the stage for balloting that will focus on whether Turkey will embrace reforms sought by the European Union as prerequisites for membership.
Ecevit had refused to step aside and argued that an early vote would hurt the economy and play into the hands of Islamic extremists and Kurdish separatists.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
