Turkish Premier Faces New Opponent
Saying that Turkey’s teetering government has failed, former Foreign Minister Ismail Cem announced Friday that he is forming a new political party to topple the ailing prime minister.
The announcement dealt a major blow to the rule of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who said he has no plans to step down. But three more deputies deserted Friday, shaving Ecevit’s majority in the 550-seat parliament to 14 seats.
“Turkey needs an effective administration,” said Cem, who resigned Thursday. Cem had been one of the government’s most popular ministers.
“Because of its internal strife, the government has moved away from being a ruling power.... It has become a structure which is unable to take the steps needed,” Cem said.
Ecevit was widely regarded as the glue that held together his three-party coalition. Since he fell ill in May, coalition members have been divided on whether Turkey should move forward with reforms aimed at meeting European Union membership requirements.
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