Turkish opposition airs motion to topple premier

June 18, 1980

Turkey's main opposition group, the Republican People's Party, disclosed Tuesday the text of a censure motion aimed at toppling the seven-month-old right-wing minority government of Prime Minister Suleyman Demirel. The party chairman, Bulent Ecevit, who is a former prime minister, said the present government was obviously unable to solve Turkey's urgent economic problems and widespread political violence and proposed a "restoration government" to rule the country until general elections next year. Mr. Ecevit's plan envisages a three-party coalition between his party, Mr. Demirel's Justice Party, and the Muslim fundamentalist National Salvation Party.

The censure motion, which was submitted Monday night, will be taken up only by the lower house of parliament. It must go through a series of parliamentary procedures before it goes to a vote.