- Title: Turkey: Prime Minister Ecevit Opens Clear Lead In National Elections
- Date: 19th April 1999
- Summary: Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit opened a clear lead in the Turkish national elections, but dramatic gains by a hard-line right-wing party casts doubt on his ability to form a coalition. Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's Democratic Left Party (DSP) was emerging as the leader in April 18 voting in the Turkish elections. It had won 21. 7 percent after just over 66 percent of the vote had been counted by April 19 morning. But trailing him as the second strongest at the polls, is the hard line Nationalist Action Party (MHP). The final results of the poll was as follows: The Democratic Left Party 136 seats Nationalist Action Party 129 seats The Virtue Party 111 seats Motherland Party 86 seats The True Path Party 85 seats Following the poll and the rise of the nationalists' popularity in politics, Turkey gets ready to face a coalition of politically opposing 'poles', Democratic Left Party and the Nationalist Action party. Both parties are reluctant to make further comments on coalition formulas, but the ballot boxes have already spelled out their Cupertino. Bulent Ecevit was re-appointed Prime Ministers designate on May 3.
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- Location: TURKEY ISTANBUL
- Reuters ID: LDL0012AXY2YF
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
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- Copyright Holder: Reuters Archive
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