Pro-Islamic Party May Lead Turkey Collapse Of Ruling Coalition Paves Way For Welfare Party

Former Premier Tansu Ciller’s party pulled out of Turkey’s ruling coalition on Saturday.

The government’s collapse could give another shot at power to the increasingly influential, pro-Islamic Welfare Party, whose philosophy has worried Turkey’s Western allies.

Mrs. Ciller called the government “practically and legally” finished, the Anatolia news agency reported Friday from Madrid, Spain. Her True Path Party’s executive body formalized the break early Saturday, after she arrived in Ankara.

The decision came shortly after President Suleyman Demirel announced he would not take sides in the nation’s political deadlock. Mrs. Ciller is the subject of corruption probes based on allegations by Welfare and backed by her coalition partner, Premier Mesut Yilmaz.

Mrs. Ciller and Yilmaz agreed in March to overlook their deep rivalry and form an alliance to block Welfare from government. Welfare, which opposes Turkey’s Western-looking policies, led elections but failed to get a majority of Parliamentary seats.

Because of True Path’s decision, Yilmaz will have to submit his resignation and allow the president to designate a party leader to try to form a new government. By political tradition, Demirel should give the first chance to Welfare.

Welfare promotes an Islamic regime and closer ties with Muslim countries. The party is strongly opposed by Turkey’s military and other backers of the nation’s secular traditions.

Some political analysts suggested that Mrs. Ciller would join forces with Welfare in an effort to halt the corruption investigations. Newspapers reported that True Path was negotiating with Welfare to form a coalition.

But Welfare also could seek an alliance with Yilmaz’ Motherland Party.