Turkish papers question early poll

Who will gain from November elections?

Despite a decision by Turkey's parliament to hold early elections in November, many of the country's papers doubt whether they will actually take place at that time.

And the press seems to agree that the political and economic situation can only get worse.

"Historical decision" is how Hurriyet, the country's top-circulation daily, headlines its comment.

The paper says many MPs reluctantly voted for the motion, keeping their hopes alive until the last minute that it would be withdrawn.

The ayes have it - early elections loom for Mr Ecevit and his party

An unidentified MP is quoted as saying, however, that the election could be put off if Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit resigns during the anticipated debates on the allocation of funds to cover election costs.

"Doubts about whether an early election will actually be held on 3 November still linger in spite of the fact that a decision was made," the paper notes.

Iraqi factor

Another popular paper, Milliyet, also touches on a possible postponement of the poll, but for a different reason.

The paper quotes Felicity Party Leader Recai Kutan as saying that the election should be delayed if a US military operation is launched against Iraq.

In a separate article, the paper says a US-led campaign against Iraq in the autumn could trigger a constitutional process.

Wasting the energy that we could use for moving forward by skidding in the Middle East's dark quagmire.

Sabah

"Then the government may reconvene parliament with a view to postponing the election by one year citing the emergence of a state of war as defined in Article 78 of the Constitution," the article says.

The Sabah daily points to yet another factor in the complicated equation.

An editorial headlined "The real choice will be made today" refers to the fact that MPs still have to debate a package of reforms designed to support the country's bid to join the European Union.

"They must decide Turkey's destination after the election," Sabah says.

Early elections may not be held as Iraqi operation seems a certainty

Zaman

It says parliament must choose between integration with the modern world, more freedoms and prosperity on the one hand - "Or wasting the energy that we could use for moving forward by skidding in the Middle East's dark quagmire."

The paper predicts that 126 deputies from the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), now the largest in parliament, will vote against the bills.

Political suicide

Ortadogu, a paper which supports the Nationalist Action Party, warns of the catastrophic consequences of any election postponement for the country's security and economy.

The paper argues that Mr Ecevit, who has opposed early elections, might cynically use the start of hostilities against Iraq as a means to get his own way.

"In fact, it is unfortunate that the election will possibly coincide with such an operation," the paper says.

Now that the present government has lost its majority in parliament, the formation of a new administration without fresh elections would be difficult and take time.

"Therefore, exacerbation of the existing uncertainties within our borders would be tantamount to a suicide at a time when our borders will be surrounded by a ring of fire," the paper warns.

Constitution

The moderate pro-Islamic daily Zaman is likewise frank in expressing its fears.

Mr Ecevit believes, as did Ataturk, that Turkey should be a secular state

"Early elections may not be held as Iraqi operation seems a certainty," reads the headline, based on a statement by Turkish Grand National Assembly Speaker Omer Izgi.

The paper says Izgi has clarified the constitutional situation.

While scheduled elections can be put off one year if a state of war has emerged, once a decision has been taken to hold early elections, they cannot be postponed on grounds of war.

"What we can do is to revoke the decision for holding an early general election and parliament can at any time take that step," he explains.

Yeni Safak, a liberal pro-Islamic daily, praises MPs for moving forward the general elections even though they are aware they may not be re-elected.

"Parliament must finish the task", the paper says, urging it to pass the EU-related bills.

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.