U-turn by Turkish premier paves way for early elections

The ailing Turkish Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, made a major U-turn yesterday and agreed to call early elections in November in an attempt to end the political turmoil set off two months ago by his deteriorating health.

The decision came after the left-right coalition lost its majority in parliament when six more MPs resigned from Mr Ecevit's Democratic Left party (DSP), the latest to quit in a week-long mass exodus. The government now has only half the seats it originally occupied in the 550-member assembly. Mr Ecevit had said he would resign if his government lost its majority but yesterday showed no sign of doing so.

The coalition must now muster support from the opposition, who argue that November is too late. Abdullah Gul, deputy head of the Islamist AK party, said: "This government has already lost its legitimacy – why should we wait until November?"

The decision marked a U-turn for Mr Ecevit, who had insisted that polls would not be held before they were due in 2004. His nationalist partner and coalition heavyweight, Devlet Bahceli, has been lobbying for November elections for several days. By agreeing to November polls, Mr Ecevit may be hoping to stay at the coalition helm until then.

But it is unclear whether Mr Ecevit is strong enough, physically and politically, to join forces with the opposition to rush through parliament a series of crucial human rights reforms sought by the European Union before its December summit if Turkey is to begin accession talks next year. A delay would be a huge setback to Ankara's long-standing bid to join the EU.

His nationalist partners are deeply suspicious of Europe, and are opposed to legislative changes that include lifting all restrictions on Kurdish language education and broadcasts, as well as abolishing the death penalty.

Turkey has been in political limbo since Mr Ecevit, 77, was hospitalised in early May. His refusal to resign or appoint a successor strained nerves in his DSP, finally erupting in the mass resignation of dozens of MPs and several top ministers.

His former foreign minister Ismail Cem resigned last week and announced he would be setting up a rival social democratic party that will include the popular Economy minister, Kemal Dervis, and the former deputy prime minister Husamettin Ozkan.

The political uncertainty has unnerved financial markets, threatening an economic recovery programme backed by £10bn in International Monetary Fund loans.