: Turkey Bastes in Political and Economic Turmoil

Even a spectacular showing at the World Cup can’t brighten the mood in Turkey these days. Ailing Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has agreed to hold early elections in November, which would cut short a term that was due to end in 2004. The move follows a campaign led to bring down his government in which several cabinet ministers and half his party’s legislators have quit in 10 days. His party’s dissatisfaction stems primarily from his ailing health and subsequent refusal to step aside despite being bedridden for two months. The political pressure cooker isn’t helped by the US counting on Turkey’s air bases for an impeding invasion of Iraq (obliviously, US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz visits this week) or its slumping currency and ballooning debt. Western countries are concerned about the stalled EU membership bid and the popular Islamist parties waiting in the wings (not to mention the secular generals that would oust them). With additional cabinet members packing their bags, Ecevit admits that serving out his term “doesn’t seem to be feasible” – an understatement, considering that his own (now former) Foreign Minister Ismail Cem announced the formation of a new pro-Western political party to directly challenge Ecevit’s Democratic Left Party.

Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.