Members of Turkey's far-right Nationalist Action Party (MHP), a partner of the ruling coalition, convened here Sunday to vote on a set of changes to the party program and policies as part of its drive to become more moderate, the Anatolia news agency reported.
Nearly 1,400 delegates will cast votes at the MHP's sixth congress during which party leader and deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli will also seek to renew his mandate at the helm of the party.
Bahceli faces only one contender, Serafeddin Toperi, in the race for the party leadership and is expected to defeat him easily to keep his post, according to analysts.
The main highlight of the congress will be the proposed changes to the party's program, which was drawn up in 1983, in a bid to shift the party towards the center-right.
The draft program, which has been kept secret so far, underlines the importance of Turkey's integration with the European Union, which granted Ankara candidacy in December 1999, and stresses a "harmonious unity with the globalizing world", according to press reports.
It also redefines the party's interpretation of nationalism and categorically rejects a "violent and racist" approach.
During the congress, Bahceli is expected to make a 22-page speech in a bid to persuade party grassroots to give consent to the winds of change he is proposing.
The 52-year-old Bahceli, who became MHP leader in 1997, has been trying hard since to help the party shed its image of violent nationalism stemming from their role in the chaotic late 1970s.
The MHP is best known for its infamous youth branch, the Grey Wolves, who were running street battles with left-wing militants before the 1980 military coup.
Bahceli accelerated his efforts for change when the party unexpectedly emerged as the second biggest party from the April 1999 elections after snatching 17.98 percent of the votes.
The surprise win also gave the MHP a return to power after a nearly 20-year absence when it agreed to join a coalition led by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who heads the Democratic Left Party -- ANKARA (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
