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Viewing cable 07ANKARA1025, TURKEY HEADED TO EARLY GENERAL ELECTIONS

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07ANKARA1025 2007-05-01 16:23 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Ankara
VZCZCXRO2401
OO RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHAK #1025 1211623
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 011623Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1919
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
RUEHAK/USDAO ANKARA TU IMMEDIATE
RUEUITH/TLO ANKARA TU IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEUITH/ODC ANKARA TU IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/39ABG CP INCIRLIK AB TU IMMEDIATE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/425ABS IZMIR TU//CC// IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS ANKARA 001025 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV ECON TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY HEADED TO EARLY GENERAL ELECTIONS 
 
REF: ANKARA 1006 AND PREVIOUS 
 
1. (U) Turkey's Constitutional Court announced late Mary 1 
that it has accepted the opposition Republican People's Party 
(CHP) petition to annul the first round of presidential 
voting on the ground that the required quorum was not 
present.  CHP had argued that 367 -- the two-thirds of the 
members of parliament necessary to actually elect a president 
in either of the first two rounds -- is also the number 
required for a quorum.  The Court agreed with CHP.  It will 
publish its decision as quickly as possible. 
 
2. (U) Minutes later, Justice and Development Party (AKP) 
spokesman and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek announced at a 
press conference that the AKP government will abide by the 
Court's decision as, he added, would any Turkish government. 
Cicek also indicated that parliament would convene as 
scheduled tomorrow afternoon, May 2, for what would have been 
the second round of voting.  Tomorrow's round will now 
instead serve as a second attempt to gather a quorum of 367 
for a new first round.  If, as seems virtually certain, 367 
MPs do not show, this parliament will be unable to elect a 
president.  As a result, its only remaining duties will be to 
pass an election law and dissolve itself. 
 
3. (U) The AKP central executive and decision making board 
will reportedly convene this evening; the AK party group will 
meet tomorrow morning.  The opposition, whose desire for 
early elections the Court's decision fulfills, is expected to 
make statements soon.  Cicek told the assembled press that 
not only was AKP prepared to go to early elections, but it 
was the party best prepared to do so. 
 
4. (SBU) Comment:  The Court's decision ensures early 
elections, taking Turkey down the road that seemed almost 
inevitable following the Turkish General Staff's April 27 
statement.  It also allows AKP to take the high road, make 
another attempt to gather a quorum of 367 and when that 
fails, proceed with immediate elections.  This development 
will likely calm financial markets.  The Court's decision 
accomplishes one more thing as well:  it guarantees that it 
will be enormously difficult for any sitting parliament to 
elect a president, unless (1) one party manages to amass at 
least 367 MPs; or (2) a candidate is found who commands such 
consensus that this new quorum requirement can be met.  End 
comment. 
 
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/ 
 
WILSON