Former PM Ecevit to be buried Saturday in official state ceremony

Former 5 time Prime Minister and one of the icons of Turkish politics, Bulent Ecevit, passed away last Sunday night at the GATA military hospital in Ankara. Ecevit is to be buried on Saturday in a state ceremony at the State Cemetery in Ankara.

At special meeting of the Turkish cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, it was decided that Ecevit should be buried at Ankara's State Cemetery, where until today only former presidents as well as the commanders from Turkey’s War of Independence have been buried. The Justice and Development Party Cabinet voted to amend legal code 2549, a change which is expected to go through by Saturday, when Ecevit's funeral is to take place.

Words in honour

The Turkish Parliament (TBMM) held a special session on Tuesday in memory of Ecevit, who held the post of Prime Minister at five different times. Turkish President, Ahmet Necdet Sezer issued a statement praising Ecevit for his political ethics, manners and intellect, and for upholding Turkey's secular values. “The Turkish people will always respectfully remember his services to the country,” Sezer said. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who succeeded Ecevit in 2002, said “Turkish political life has lost an important personality.” Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer, Ecevit's heir, said on Monday: “We have lost our leader. Our pain is great. Ecevit's ideas will continue to guide us in the future. His was a life dedicated to serving the nation.” CHP leader Deniz Baykal, in Chile to attend a Socialist Internationale meeting, said Ecevit was a symbol of a period in Turkey's history, noting that his politics were rooted in the independence of the country, honesty and honour.

After the announcement of her husband’s death, Rahsan Ecevit retreated to their home in the Oran neighbourhood and began receiving mourners. Among the visitors were former Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar, Social Democrat People's Party (SHP) leader Murat Karayalcin, Republican People's Party (CHP) General Secretary Onder Sav, Deputy Prime Minister Abdulkadir Sener and Minister of Interior Abdulkadir Aksu.

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