Prime Minister Tansu Ciller is expected to call a general election in December after reviving the coalition that existed before the September political crisis. Ciller reformed the partnership between her True Path Party (DYP) and the Republican People's Party (CHP) on 16 October and was expected to submit a cabinet list to the president's office before the end of the month.

The coalition is likely to face a vote of confidence in early November. But the prime minister is not expected to face any further set-backs. Ciller's attempts to establish a minority administration were rebuffed in no-confidence votes earlier in October.

If the poll is to go ahead on 24 December, the government will have to push through electoral legislation beforehand, as well as draw up new voting lists. This is a task some analysts say will be difficult in such a short period.

In addition, the government may also have to introduce a provisional budget for the first quarter of 1996. As constitutionally required, a draft 1996 budget was submitted to parliament by Ciller's caretaker minority administration.

Ciller is also pressing ahead with one of her key policies that will include Turkey in a customs union with the EU by 1996. On 24 October, amendments to article 8 of the constitution providing for greater freedom of expression were presented to parliament. The amendment is seen as a pre-condition for approval of the customs union by the European Parliament in a mid-December vote.