Authority crisis in the TSK! MHP supports the withdrawal of the President's dismissal authority

The bill, which includes amendments to certain laws, was discussed in the TBMM Planning and Budget Committee. CHP İzmir Deputy Rahmi Aşkın Türeli stated that they do not find it appropriate for dismissals, promotion periods, and appointments in the TSK to be carried out by the President. MHP İstanbul Deputy İsmail Faruk Aksu also stated that they support the decision to withdraw the articles in question.

Discussions on the entirety of the Bill on Amendments to Certain Laws and Decree-Laws (KHK) were completed in the TBMM Planning and Budget Committee.

CHP'S TÜRELİ: WE DO NOT FIND THE REGULATION APPROPRIATE

Taking the floor on the entirety of the proposal, CHP İzmir Deputy Rahmi Aşkın Türeli stated that they do not find the regulation in the proposal appropriate, which allows for the modification of rank waiting periods by Presidential decree in order to meet personnel needs in case of shortages or surpluses in the rank fulfillment ratios of force commands due to various reasons.

Criticizing the regulation, Türeli said, "Certain matters and procedures are clearly listed in the Turkish Armed Forces Personnel Law. There are justifications for everything, including why you are extending or shortening this period. You are granting this authority to the President here, but there is no justification provided. We do not find it appropriate for dismissals, promotion periods, and appointments to be carried out by the President."

Türeli also stated that they are against granting authority to the President for appointments in this field through regulations regarding the selection of Higher Education Council (YÖK) members and the appointment of rectors.

DEM Party Antalya Deputy Hakkı Saruhan Oluç noted that the conversion of villages into neighborhoods, the rendering of provincial special administrations dysfunctional in places where metropolitan municipalities are established, and the abolition of town municipalities have created problems and reduced the public's opportunities to participate in governance.

İYİ Party Samsun Deputy Erhan Usta criticized the regulation regarding the determination of Economic and Social Council members by the President and the determination of working procedures by Presidential decree, stating that the council, which is included in the Constitution, has not met at all since 2009.

"EXCESSIVE POWER IS BEING GRANTED TO THE PRESIDENCY"

Explaining that the members and working procedures and principles of the council, chaired by the President, are determined by the President, Usta noted that the council has been rendered dysfunctional with this regulation.

Yeniden Refah Party Adana Deputy Sadullah Kısacık emphasized that too much power is being granted to the President with the bill and continued his words as follows:

"We are giving excessive power and an excessive workload to the Presidency. Just in this law, there is the authority for rank waiting periods for officers, the dismissal of officers from the armed forces, and the appointment of rectors; the authority to increase the share taken from the budgets of the Çanakkale Provincial Special Administration, Çanakkale Municipality, and Çanakkale Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 1 percent to 2 percent; the appointment of the rector of the National Defense University, and the determination of the members of the Economic and Social Council—we are giving the President so much authority and responsibility. Also, consider all other responsibilities and laws. A President dealing with so much work cannot deal with Turkey's issues, let alone world issues."

"WE ARE AGAINST THE OMNIBUS BILL METHOD"

MHP İstanbul Deputy İsmail Faruk Aksu stated that they are against the "omnibus" bill method and that the TBMM Rules of Procedure should be rearranged to increase legislative efficiency and quality.

Stating that "The Presidential Government System is a system with high representative justice, based on democratic, check-and-balance mechanisms and a culture of consensus," Aksu assessed, "Thanks to the check-and-balance mechanism within the Presidential Government System itself, the Constitutional Court has identified and annulled the deficiencies, disruptions, and errors here. Now, we are making a new legal regulation according to the result revealed by a correct and functioning system."

Aksu said they support the decision to withdraw the articles regarding the President's authority to dismiss officers associated with indiscipline from the TSK, as well as the articles regarding the dismissal of personnel at the rank of lieutenant and colonel within the Coast Guard and Gendarmerie for disciplinary reasons.

"THERE HAVE BEEN SHORTAGES IN OUR OFFICERS AT CERTAIN LEVELS"

AKP Uşak Deputy İsmail Güneş stated that the authority granted to the President regarding the rank waiting periods of officers has existed since 2018 but has not been used until now, and noted the following:

"There are waiting periods for lieutenants. We experienced a coup attempt, and as a result, with the dismissal of the members of the terrorist organization who participated in this coup from the Turkish Armed Forces, there were shortages in our officers at certain levels. You can take a new second lieutenant immediately, but if you cannot immediately make them a captain, major, or lieutenant colonel, then in order to eliminate the deficiencies here, ultimately, when there is any need, an officer can be made a colonel or captain early, or if you have a need, this has been used and not used, but it can be used if needed."

Güneş stated that there is a regulation regarding the delegation of duties to private legal entities in the Law on the Regulation of Betting and Games of Chance in Football and Other Sports Competitions, and said, "One of the main goals is to combat illegal betting. Alongside this, certain measures are being taken, such as preventing those under 18 from playing these games by withdrawing money from credit cards. Of course, we could not prevent it 100 percent, but it is not possible to easily combat this with a digital system."

In the committee, the motions of unconstitutionality by CHP deputies were not accepted.

The discussion of the articles of the proposal began. On the other hand, the AKP announced while the discussions were ongoing that the regulation granting the authority to dismiss soldiers at the rank of lieutenant and colonel in the TSK, Gendarmerie, and Coast Guard would be removed from the omnibus bill.