Gul: Early elections a posibility
top Turkish court is set to decide by October on an appeal by the Democratic People’s Party (DEHAP) against convictions for forging documents that enabled it to enter November polls.
An early election could threaten economic recovery in the IMF debtor and implementation of political reforms designed to secure Turkey accession talks with the European Union in late 2004.
DEHAP failed to cross the 10 percent barrier required to win seats. But another party which also fell short of the threshold, True Path (DYP), argues that without DEHAP’s participation it could have entered parliament, altering the balance of power.
"If a decision is made that is not in our favour then we will go to early elections. We will return with an even larger majority," Gul told Yeni Safak newspaper.
If the court rules against DEHAP, the election board could award scores of seats to DYP hence stripping the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) of the parliamentary majority needed to change the constitution.
AKP, a newly formed group distrusted by Turkey’s secular establishment, swept to power for a five-year term in November 2002 elections, pledging jobs and prosperity after a financial crisis battered Turkey’s economy in February 2001.
