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ANKARA, July 10: Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem has decided to resign from the government and from the DSP party of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, whose coalition is already on the brink of collapse, the CNN-Turk television channel reported Wednesday, quoting aides to Cem.
If the report is confirmed, it could lead to the downfall of Ecevit’s government as Cem would take with him several other DSP deputies.
The 77-year-old prime minister has seen his Democratic Left Party and government crumble in the past two days as more than 30 lawmakers, including six ministers, resigned and his coalition partners have backed increasing calls for early elections.
The defections — triggered by the ailing Ecevit’s refusal to step down — were spearheaded by Husamettin Ozkan, his former right-hand man, and have ended the DSP’s majority in the 550-seat parliament and put it in second place after the MHP.
ECEVIT: Ailing Turkish premier Bulent Ecevit battled for survival as expectations mounted that some of his closest former allies were plotting to set up a new political platform ahead of possible early elections.
Ecevit, steward of a land viewed by Washington as a key Muslim ally in its “war against terror”, signalled that he would resist resigning ahead of polls.
Across Ankara, through the day, government and opposition figures met in secret conclaves to chart a way out of deadlock.
Ecevit, 77, chaired a meeting of his cabinet, held for the first time since he fell ill in early May at his central Ankara offices. He later met the heads of his two partner parties who have both embraced the notion of early polls.
Meanwhile Ecevit’s former deputy, Husamettin Ozkan, the leading figure in a party mutiny, continued a round of meetings with possible allies amid growing speculation he may be building a new centrist block to mount a challenge when elections come.
Ozkan met Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Economy Minister Kemal Dervis, a former World Banker who crafted Turkey’s multi-billion dollar IMF pact. Markets were hoping the meeting might herald the creation of a new political platform.
CNN Turk television said in an unsourced report that Cem had decided to resign, a move that could force Ecevit’s hand. NTV television, however, said Cem might wait to announce his decision. Ozkan and Dervis left without making any comment.
“Cem and Ozkan are strong political players and they have the support and I think the desire to form a strong political party,” said Deutsche Bank economist Marco Annunziata.—AFP/Reuters
