CHP criticizes Supreme Military Council meeting

Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Yankı Bağcıoğlu evaluated the 2024 Supreme Military Council (YAŞ) meeting held today. Bağcıoğlu stated that the meeting included decisions on promotions and retirements that are of vital importance for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), and wished for these decisions to be beneficial for our country and nation.

Bağcıoğlu expressed that it was appropriate for the command echelon not to change in the current crisis environment. However, emphasizing that YAŞ meetings have always been a subject of debate, Bağcıoğlu stated that the focus should be on the essence of the meeting.

CHP Deputy Chairman Bağcıoğlu pointed out that the current YAŞ structure includes the Ministers of National Education, Justice, Treasury and Finance, Foreign Affairs, and the Minister of Interior. He stated that this means individuals who do not have sufficient knowledge regarding the duties and responsibilities of the TSK are present at the meeting. Furthermore, he criticized the fact that only the Chief of General Staff and the 3 Force Commanders from the military wing are present at meetings that will shape the future of the TSK.

Bağcıoğlu stated that while the Minister of Interior is present at YAŞ meetings, the Minister of National Defense is not present in the boards where promotion and retirement decisions related to the Ministry of Interior are made. He stated that this situation contradicts the genetic codes focused on soldiers and armed forces and is a structure that draws the armed forces into politics.

Stating that promotion and retirement decisions for more than a thousand generals, admirals, and officers were made at the meeting, Bağcıoğlu alleged that these decisions were taken with political motives. He also claimed that the force commanders have limited say in YAŞ meetings, while political power centers have more say.

Bağcıoğlu stated that the side of the meeting reflected in the press included the officers who were promoted, but that the colonels who were retired and the issues of extending terms of duty were not sufficiently covered. He expressed that this is part of the efforts to politicize the TSK.

Furthermore, emphasizing that political preferences rather than performance, merit, and competence are decisive in the promotion and retirement decisions of officers, Bağcıoğlu mentioned that hundreds of officers who did not appear in the press were purged or dismissed from the profession for committing disciplinary offenses.

Bağcıoğlu stated that he wonders whether important issues such as the combat readiness status of the TSK and the problems of the Military Health System were discussed at the YAŞ meetings. He also expressed that he expects evaluations to be made regarding potential command unity problems that may arise between the Minister of National Defense and the Chief of General Staff.

In conclusion, wishing that the decisions taken at the YAŞ meeting be beneficial to our country and nation, Bağcıoğlu stated that the public is waiting for answers to the following questions:

''According to what criteria do the ministers make promotion and retirement decisions?

Why are generals with the rank of OR not present at YAŞ meetings?

What measures will be taken when officers who want to be promoted take positions according to political preferences?

Are the promotion quotas that have been radically increased in the Naval Forces determined according to personal preferences?

Does prioritizing the promotion of personnel in auxiliary positions reduce combat effectiveness?

How many colonels have been compulsorily retired since 2016 following YAŞ, and does the TSK need these colonels?''

News Source: 12punto

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