Erdal İnönü becomes “Minister of Foreign Affairs”
Having served as the deputy prime minister and minister of state in the coalition government formed by DYP (True Path Party) and SHP (Social Democratic Populist Party) following the general elections of 1991, Erdal İnönü was made Minister of Foreign Affairs on March 27, 1995 when SHP and CHP (Republican People’s Party) joined forces.
The magic words that convinced Erdal İnönü to take the position came from Hikmet Çetin, who was elected general president of CHP at the Convention during which CHP and SHP were united. “Turkey and CHP needs you, please do not withhold your support”, Çetin had said. İnönü had realized at the time that CHP would not be able to remain in coalition with DYP without his presence. When he did lend the “support” he was asked, both Hikmet Çetin was relieved, and the future of the coalition was safeguarded.
Erdal İnönü served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs until the end of the first Tansu Çiller government on October 5, 1995.
