Turkey: No Support to Ecevit

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The hostility of the Turkish masses to the National Front coalition government has been expressed in the first election meetings of the main bourgeois opposition party, the RPP.

A series of meetings addressed by party leader Ecevit drew no less than 200,000 people.

in diverting the anti-government struggles of the workers, and preventing a collapse of the NF administration.

CP BACKING

Yet the Stalinist leaders of the Turkish workers are backing Ecevit, helping to gather forces to support his demagogic speeches about "democracy"

This is in spite of Ecevit's vicious attacks on the "left". • In one of his election meetings, he is reported as saying • "If there are any communists in the RPP, just name them and I will deal with them"

The main fascist party the NAP (National Action Party) has refused to run jointly with Demirel's party. This indicates that the bourgeoisie are determined to keep the fascist card in reserve, while for now allowing Ecevit to head off a mass movement.

The only workers party allowed to participate in the election-the Turkish Labour Party-is under continuous police harassment in a bid to prevent any independent workers voice being heard.

ARRESTED Sixty-four members were arrested for putting up posters proclaining "let the flag of socialism rise in Parliament"

There must be no let up in the struggle to remove the NF coalition government before the election.

But in the election itself there must be no vote whatever for the bourgeois RPP. Instead workers must demand the TLP break all links with the RPP and put forward a socialist programme to unite workers and peasants. • Turkish bourgeois leader Ecevit at election rally

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Ecevit himself by concluding a deal with the Demirel government for an early election has played a key role