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Turkish Press Review, 07-07-27
From: Turkish Directorate General of Press and Information <http://www.byegm.gov.tr>
Summary of the political and economic
news in the Turkish press this morning
27.07.2007
CONTENTS
[01] BAHCELI: “THE MHP WILL BE PRESENT WHEN PARLIAMENT ELECTS A NEW PRESIDENT”
[02] NO DSP BACKING FOR POSSIBLE GUL PRESIDENCY
[03] BAYKAL URGES ERDOGAN TO KEEP PLEDGE OF “CONCILIATION” IN CHOOSING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
[04] FRESHMAN MHP DEPUTY DIES IN CAR CRASH
[05] FOUR IN RUNNING TO REPLACE AGAR AT DP HELM
[01] BAHCELI: “THE MHP WILL BE PRESENT WHEN PARLIAMENT ELECTS A NEW
PRESIDENT”
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said yesterday that
his group would be present for upcoming balloting in Parliament to elect a
new president. He said that they had no interest in who the ruling Justice
and Development Party (AKP) picks as a candidate, adding that this is the
AKP’s concern. “We can’t back their candidate, and actually they
don’t need our support,” said Bahceli. “If they fail to elect their
candidate in the first and second rounds, they will elect the president in
the third round, which only needs the votes of 276 deputies.” In related
news, the MHP’s declaration that it would be present for the voting was
welcomed by the AKP, which won 340 seats in Parliament in Sunday’s
general elections. The AKP needs at least 27 more deputies present in the
General Assembly during the first and second round in order to meet the
constitutional quorum of 367. /Milliyet/
[02] NO DSP BACKING FOR POSSIBLE GUL PRESIDENCY
Democratic Leftist Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer said yesterday that his
party would not support Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s possible
presidential candidacy. Commenting on the upcoming presidential election,
Sezer told reporters that most of the public should welcome the president
being elected and that they would continue to urge the Justice and
Development Party (AKP) to pick a candidate who can “normalize”
politics. “We won’t back Gul’s candidacy, as his move (towards a
possible run) has raised public tension,” said Sezer, urging Premier
Recep Tayyip Erdogan to act in line with his post-election pledge to seek
compromise over the next president. Asked when the 13 DSP deputies who ran
under the Republican People’s Party (CHP) umbrella in Sunday’s
elections will part from the CHP, Sezer said that this was not important,
adding that the move could follow Parliament’s upcoming oath of office
ceremony. /Cumhuriyet/
[03] BAYKAL URGES ERDOGAN TO KEEP PLEDGE OF “CONCILIATION” IN CHOOSING
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
Commenting yesterday on Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s hint that he may
again seek the presidency, main opposition Republican People Party (CHP)
leader Deniz Baykal cited Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent
pledge that the ruling party’s candidate would be chosen using
conciliation. Stressing that carrying forward the tensions of the old
government would be a bad way to start the new Parliament, Baykal stated
that both the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Turkey would
benefit from conciliation on the issue. “I hope the prime minister
won’t make the same mistake of imposing his presidential candidate on the
opposition,” added Baykal. A CHP-led boycott of May’s presidential
election, protesting Gul’s candidacy, led to last Sunday’s general
elections. /Hurriyet/
[04] FRESHMAN MHP DEPUTY DIES IN CAR CRASH
Professor Mehmet Cihat Ozonder, who won a seat in Parliament under the
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) in last Sunday’s general elections, has
lost his life in a fatal car accident. Ozonder was on his way to Ankara’s
Esenboga Airport, set to fly to Istanbul and get his official deputy
certification from the Supreme Board of Elections (YSK). In the accident,
apparently caused by speeding and reckless driving, three people were
injured while the new MHP deputy for Istanbul’s third electoral district
was killed. Following the accident, the MHP asked the YSK to name Mehmet
Taytak, who placed fourth in Istanbul’s third electoral district, to step
into the vacant seat. YSK head Muammer Aydin said the incident was
unprecedented, adding that the board would decide on the MHP’s request
today. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul telephoned MHP leader Devlet Bahceli
to express his condolences for the late deputy. /All papers/
[05] FOUR IN RUNNING TO REPLACE AGAR AT DP HELM
The Democrat Party (DP) is seeking a new leader following the resignation
of Mehmet Agar after Sunday’s general elections, where the party failed
to meet the 10% parliamentary threshold. Among the possible contenders for
the post are former True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller, Union of
Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB) head Rifat Hisarciklioglu, former
diplomat Mehmet Ali Bayar, and former State Minister Gokberk Ergenekon.
/Turkish Daily News/
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