Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit rejected calls to resign on Tuesday as he returned to hospital for a check-up, saying that such a move would destroy stability at a time when the government is grappling with Ankara’s economic crisis.
"Destroying government stability now will bring very serious problems to the country," Ecevit told a press conference marking the third anniversary of his fragile three-way coalition.
Early elections would bring IMF-backed economic reforms to a halt and thwart efforts to join the European Union (EU), which "will have a very heavy cost for Turkey," Ecevit expressed, according to AFP.
"That is why, I deem it necessary to stay in office," he added.
Ecevit, who turned 77 on Tuesday, underwent a check-up in hospital earlier, which an aide termed as "routine."
He was discharged on Monday following an 11-day treatment for a cracked rib and inflamed leg vein, which followed an additional hospitalization for intestinal infection some two weeks earlier.
Ecevit, whose worsening health problems have affected his speech, said he also had some neurological problems, but declined to elaborate. (Albawaba.com)
