PULSE of TURKEY No: 104 GOVERNMENT WITH MHP – TIME TO BE TIMID
PULSE of TURKEY No: 104-108 .................................................... MAY 1999
PULSE of TURKEY No: 104 GOVERNMENT WITH MHP – TIME TO BE TIMID
The notorious background of the MHP with their previous ganging up in the State mechanism is one of the biggest worries and possible weaknesses of the prospective tripartite Government under PM Bulent Ecevit. Will there be any radical foreign policy changes in Turkey with the MHP’s influence? Abdullah Ocalan’s trial may be the first indicator.
PULSE of TURKEY No: 105 HEADSCARF DISTURBS PEACE, BUT MAY CONSOLIDATE COALITION HARMONY
Paradoxically the headscarf crisis may help PM designate Ecevit to form a coherent and lasting Government. The election for Speaker on May 12th will be the first test for the three parties’ harmonious co-operation as the prospective ruling power. Meanwhile, preparations are underway for cleaning up the corruption charges left over from the previous parliamentary term. What impact it will make on the chairpersons of the two centre-right parties, ANAP and the DYP, remains to be seen. But it can be confidently said now that it will be a development for the smooth functioning of the forthcoming Government.
PULSE of TURKEY No: 106 GOVERNMENT FORMATION EDGES TOWARDS END
The delay in government formation is due to the wish to set up a long lasting coalition to lead Turkey to the new century. The election for Speaker is related with the election of the next President in a year. No serious problems exist among the three coalition partners other than wearing a headscarf at university, but the MHP knows well that it has to back down on this aspect of its election promise. Paradoxically Merve Kavakci helped the Prime Minister to overcome this thorny question. It put the entire State mechanism on alert.
PULSE of TURKEY No: 107 EITHER ECEVIT OR ECEVIT FOR GOVERNMENT?
The current struggle in the government formation in Turkey has seemingly entered a new crisis with the Ecevit team’s uncalled-for interventions against the MHP’s Grey Wolves. The ropes between the DSP and the MHP have seemingly been severed. The whole country is now seeking for and speculating about a government other than the most feasible one by the DSP-MHP-ANAP. The following is the intriguing story of the current crisis. It is also the possible way out of the crisis.
PULSE of TURKEY No: 108 NEW ERA FOR TURKEY
The 57th Government just formed under PM Bulent Ecevit promises to be the longest living ruling power of Turkey of recent decades. Every effort is exerted to achieve this durability. The composition of the tripartite coalition and its even-handed government program are promising for this long-term ruling power, an unusual phenomenon in Turkish politics. Below is the story of this unity and the prospective pitfalls.