Resignation rumors in the Cabinet following the lieutenants' sword oath: He canceled his appointments

The sword oath taken by lieutenants at the Military Academy graduation ceremony and their chanting of the slogan 'We are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal' continues to occupy the agenda.

T24 columnist Tolga Şardan drew attention to the promotions and appointments within the Turkish Armed Forces, as well as the change of the Military Academy Commander that took place shortly before the lieutenants' sword oath.

Former Military Academy Commander Major General Gültekin Yaralı was promoted to lieutenant general and became the Commander of the 7th Corps in Diyarbakır. He was replaced by Levent Selahattin Güldağı, who was promoted from colonel to brigadier general.

“It is inevitable that whether [Levent Selahattin] Güldağı, who took office after [Gültekin] Yaralı, will work with the existing lower-level staff, or whether the lower-level staff has a particular approach toward the new commander, will be a topic of the investigation that has been launched,” stated Tolga Şardan, who also drew attention to the silence of Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler and former Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar regarding the lieutenants' sword oath, which has been occupying the agenda for a long time.

MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENSE MAY REQUEST TO BE RELIEVED OF DUTY

Writing that rumors are circulating in Ankara that Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler has canceled his appointments and will request to be relieved of his duty, Şardan also stated that these events should be evaluated in connection with the appointment and promotion processes in the Turkish Armed Forces, adding, “Because we know that similar events have occurred in the past in uniformed and armed public institutions like the military and police, in this geography. I hope that the timing is merely a coincidence.”

The relevant section from Tolga Şardan’s column today is as follows:

Almost everyone has spoken about the development. Starting with President Erdoğan, prominent politicians and retired officers have expressed different views on the oath ceremony.

But one person did not speak. He did not express an opinion at all: Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler.

If you ask for a second name, I would say “Former Chief of General Staff / Minister of National Defense and AKP Kayseri Deputy Hulusi Akar.”

Former Military Academy Commander Yaralı was Akar's choice. The current Military Academy Commander Güldağı, on the other hand, is from the team of Güler and the current Chief of General Staff, General Metin Gürak.

The fact that no statement has come from any of the parties involved in the process, and the silence they have maintained despite all the noise, is not a good sign.

Furthermore, it is being talked about in Ankara that since the events took place, Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler has canceled his appointments and has not been meeting with many people unless necessary.

It is even being suggested, as of the weekend, that Güler might request to be relieved of his duty.

This is Ankara. It is not like anywhere else!

News Source: 12punto