Turkey's Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit announced on Thursday (16 October) that his twenty-one month old social democratic government would resign following his party's heavy losses in last week-end's elections. Neither Mr. Ecevit, nor his main rival, right-wing Justice Party leader Suleyman Demirel, were thought likely to be able to form a new government after this mid-term election, without the backing of two far-right groups.

SYNOPSIS: A late-night meeting of Mr. Ecevit's cabinet was called to decide how to react following the defeat at the polls.

The twenty-one month old, left-of-centre government of Prime Minister Ecevit lost not only all five lower house seats, but also 33 of the 50 senate seats being contested. Mr. Ecevit emerged from the three-hour meeting to tell reporters that his decision to resign was agreed to unanimously by the Cabinet.

Daily political violence and economic problems were thought to be influential in the election result. The right-wing Justice Party led by Mr. Demirel won all of the five seats in the by-election. He also lacks an overall majority, and he is reported to favour a government headed by an independent until general elections can be held.