TURKEY: THE GENERAL ELECTION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00287R000502220001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 13, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: November 7, 1983
• Content Type: MEMO

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/13: CIA-RDP85T00287R000502220001-2
Memorandum for:
The attached memorandum was done for
the DCI at his request.
EUR M 83-10266
7 November 1983
EURA
Office of European Analysis
Directorate of Intelligence
Distribution:
Orig - DCI
1 - DDI
4 - OCO/IDCD/CD
1 - OD/EURA
2 - EURA Production
1 - WE Division
1 - IA Branch
1 - Author
DDI/EURA/WE/IA 7Nov83) 25X1
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/13: CIA-RDP85T00287R000502220001-2
7 November 1983
MEMORANDUM
Turkey: The General Election
According to unofficial returns, Turgut Ozal's independent
Motherland Party won a plurality in Sunday's legislative
election. The poor showing -- a distant third place -- by the
Although there is a small chanrP, in oar v_iew_ that the
very fact that the President permitted th MnthPr ,
~,pd Part? to
participate in the election, while excluding 12 other parti
~ between Evren and Ozal. Be and this voidin the result rC~l~e
election would give substance to foreign cri ir,cm n tha
military rea ime. -T~~arliamentary Assembly of the Council of
Europe condemned the election as undemocratic weeks before it was
held, and West European nations undoubtedly have been watching
the election process for any signs of impropriety. Far more
important, anv attempt to alter the result, at this nn;nt
probahlY would, in our view tri9flpr a r--~ctir urLrr,r t~-,+ old
~ bran into uesti n the le itimac of h militar c u it and
perhaps even topple Evren.
The election results make clear that Evren's popularity and
prestige have eroded since his election as President in 1982. ~
The key to the stability of the civilian government will be
the distribution of seats in parliament. The results of this
process will not be known until the end of the week. Under
Turkey's complicated electoral system it is possible for a party
to receive only a plurality of the popular votes but a majority
of the legislative seats. If the Motherland Party were to Sain a
...~+., u~ ~ ~amcn~ CYf.CII 1NUU IU rUDaD I
~ choice but to cooperate with Oza in forming a government.
1 let the results and
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Qovernment a ne. Evren nrnhahly Wnulri ILrPfPr a rnal;*;,,..
b e_t w_e e_n___ t h e P ani, l; c t c_?~~ ---~-^--~-F-
h ve t ~ t emo r but hp maw
' led h the Motherlan ~o~
an MP-NDP government would almost certainl be th P '
preferred alt~,rna_ t~,ive. In any event, t e ree
vowed to continue the Parties have all
policies of the mi 1 itary regime. Th'~,_~he
civilian government likely to mpr ~ ;n the ?o?
proba l~ W, i ~ ~ make m~,.,~ ,.~, ~ -~ -----~-mot week or so
f
for Evren than an NDP administration would have been_
--.-_
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/13 :CIA-RDP85T00287R000502220001-2