The Turkish parliament agreed on Wednesday to hold early elections on November 3, almost two years ahead of schedule, deputy parliamentary speaker Murat Sokmenoglu announced.
The snap election proposal won overwhelming support amongst the 514 legislators attending the session in the 550-seat house, with 449 deputies voting in favor, 62 against and three abstaining, according to AFP.
The result was yet another blow to embattled and ailing Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, whose three-party coalition, in power since May 1999, lost its parliament majority earlier this month amidst mass defections.
77-year-old Bulent Ecevit, had desperately maneuvered to delay the polls arguing that they would spell further economic and political woes for Ankara at a time when it is battling one of its worst-ever recessions with massive IMF support. The government has been in turmoil ever since early May when Ecevit began missing official duties due to ill-health and his coalition split over democracy reforms required under Turkey's struggling bid to join the European Union (EU). (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
