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Demirel warns rival politicians not to block him

ANKARA: Turkish President Suleyman Demirel on Thursday warned rival politicians that he could return to challenge them in active party politics if they blocked his way to a second term.

Demirel, who has shown no signs of losing his considerable political skills over seven years in the non-executive post, told Hurriyet newspaper he did not plan on retiring.

"I've never bothered with flowers and chickens in my life," he said. "I'll find something to do. No one should worry about that."

On Thursday, a parliamentary commission was to begin debating constitutional reforms that would allow the 75-year-old head of state to run for a second term when his current tenure expires in May.

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Demirel's bitter rival over much of the last 40 years, is backing him to avoid division in his three-party coalition. But a final parliamentary vote will be secret, allowing political enemies to flout party discipline and turn on Demirel if they chose.

Turkish financial markets were watching the process closely and will take success for Ecevit as a boost for government stability and an IMF-backed financial restructuring programme.

Voting on the constitutional reforms is likely in early April when the government needs cross-party support to open the way for Demirel's return to office.

Demirel, seven times prime minister and twice toppled in military coups, is a powerful figure on the Turkish right. His return to party politics could undermine the two main conservative leaders, Mesut Yilmaz and Tansu Ciller.

The powerful military view Demirel warily but appear to have settled into a working relationship with him as president that they never enjoyed when he was premier.

Ecevit said on Wednesday that he was confident his 352-seat government would muster the two-thirds majority of 367 votes needed to pass the constitutional changes he wants.

"There were 400 signatures on the reform bills (when they were presented to parliament)," Ecevit said.

The key opposition Islamist party and some conservatives have expressed private doubts about allowing Demirel to stay. Some left-wing deputies might also be reluctant to back Demirel.

The voting may be protracted and marked by horse-trading, the outcome hard to predict. Demirel criticised the uncertainty.

"The whisperers in parliament's corridors are saying 'They signed up but they won't follow through'. Is this a good thing?. I say that if a person puts down a signature then they follow it through," he said.-Reuters