Turkish Prime Minister Mr Bulent Ecevit comfortably retained the leadership of his Democratic Left Party (DSP) today at a congress held in the capital Ankara.
The result firmly entrenched Mr Ecevit, 75, atop the biggest party in a coalition government that last week won some 10 billion in new IMF and World Bank loans to help Turkey extricate itself from an economic crisis he sparked by quarrelling publicly with the president, unnerving financial markets.
Party delegates gave Mr Ecevit 963 votes against 86 for challenger Mr Sema Piskinsut, congress chairman Mr Ramazan Gursoy told the assembly in sports hall.
Mr Piskinsut's request to address the congress before the voting had been turned down in a vote of hands.
"I will work day and night to be worthy of the trust you have placed in me," Mr Ecevit said in a brief acceptance speech.
