Barzani Meets PUK Delegation, Agreement on Electricity Issue

July 18, 2002

Bozlak first of all commended on their insistence on October 6 as the date of elections, saying that the reason of it was their opinion that the existing government could eliminate the block before the European Union. Stressing that they were not convinced that the parliament could take serious steps towards democratisation, Bozlak mentioned that they wanted to save time for the new parliament. “Therefore the Assembly should convene not at September 1 but at an earlier date. However we have expressed that before the elections laws on political parties and elections should be amended,” said the HADEP Chairman, “If the parliament convenes at the beginning of August, it is possible to amend the laws on political parties and elections and adjustment laws. Alliances should be made possible and the impediment of 10% representation which is the biggest obstacle before the public will should be eliminated.”

Making a call to political parties represented in the parliament, Bozlak said the following: “We wish legal adjustments which will secure justice in representation, realization of public will in the parliament and a just election.”

“Laws on elections should be democratised”

On the other hand unions and political parties asked for laws on political parties and elections to be amended.

Committee of Chairmen of the Labor Platform, in a meeting in Yalova, stated that there was an “unexpected” early election because of artificial decompositions. “An election with the present political parties will not be new. The election should be made after the laws are amended and taking international problems into consideration,” said the statement.

And Rifat Hisarciklioglu, Chairman of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges (TOBB) also asked for the said laws to be amended. The Chairman stressed that the adjustment laws and tax laws should be amended as well.

Association of Businessmen and Industrialist in South East (GUNSIAD) released a written statement on the matter, saying that young cadres should take over the power. And Mehmet Bekaroglu, Deputy Chairman of Saadet Party pointed out that they would support the early elections only after the said laws were amended. “A new government for election should be formed,” said Bekaroglu.

Abdullah Gul, Deputy Chairman of AKP made a press conference, saying that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and the government should resign “according to the democratic rules and democratic ethics”. Gul expressed that the early election was unavoidable, adding that they did not find convincing that the parties in power decided to make elections on November 3.