1.
GV INTERIOR: delegates seated in National Assembly
0.13

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CU: caretaker Prime minister, Bulent Ecevit, seated with members.
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SV: parliament members placing ballots into box with Ecevit looking on. (6 shots)
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GV: members of parliament.
0.53



Initials RH/1625



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Turkish Prime Minister Designate, Mr Suleyman Demirel announced on Thursday (7 July) that agreement had been reached with Mr Neomettin Erkaban, leader of the strongly Islamic National Salvation Party, the N.S.P., about renewing the right-wing coalition which governed until the election on June the fifth. On Wednesday (6 July) the National Assembly met to try to elect a new speaker, as the head of the Justice Party, Mr Demirel continued his efforts to form a Government.

Mr Suleyman's agreement with Mr Erkaban is reported to be a big step toward the re-establishment of the coalition. Mr Demirel said Mr Erkaban had given him a positive reply on the question of renewing the coalition. The third party prospective member of the coalition with Mr Demirel's Justice Party is the ultra right-wing Nationalists Movement Party of Mr Alpaslan Turkes, who, it is reported, has already assured Mr. Demirel of his party's support. Mr Demirel whose Justice Party holds 189 seats was to have further talks with Mr Turkes on Thursday (7 July).

SYNOPSIS: The National Salvation Party with 24 seats holds the Parliamentary balance of power in the National Assembly, of 450 members. The Republican People's Party led by Mr Bulent Ecevit won 214 seats in the recent elections making in the biggest in the Assembly. However Mr Ecevit lost a vote of confidence on Sunday (3 July) by 229 votes to 217. He remains caretaker Prime Minister while Mr Demirel tries to form a government. The former coalition headed by Mr Demirel has been described as 'shaky' having failed to agree on the country's critical balance of payments problem and rising political violence. Thursday's National Assembly meeting failed to elect a now speaker due to insufficient members being present.