AKP legislative proposal regarding force commanders: 'Extend the terms'

Regarding the age limit for force commanders, Güler stated, "With the regulations made in the Turkish Armed Forces Personnel Law, we desire to increase the number of generals and admirals whose service terms can be extended by the decision of the Supreme Military Council. We are making the age limit for force commanders equal to that of the Chief of General Staff and are providing our President with the opportunity to extend it as well."

Güler, in a press conference he held at the Parliament, expressed his wish for the forest fires in İzmir to be extinguished in a short time.

Reminding of the forest fires in Bilecik as well, Güler conveyed his get-well wishes to those affected by the fires. Güler emphasized that the state will stand by the citizens who suffered damage from the fires.

Stating that the Draft Law on Amendments to Certain Laws and Decree-Law No. 375 has been submitted to the Speaker of the TBMM, Güler noted that the proposal consists of 22 articles.

Underlining that transparency, efficiency, and a service-oriented approach in public administration are the fundamental elements of the reforms they have implemented for many years, Güler said that the proposal includes important steps regulating the service areas of various ministries, including working life, social security, youth and sports services, national defense, tourism, and public financial management.

Güler noted that with the proposal, they aim to increase the effectiveness of services in accordance with the developing and digitalizing public administration approach, and to ensure that the services provided to citizens are carried out more quickly and simply.

Explaining that the proposal will allow citizens living abroad to submit their social security applications through consultancies and attachés, Güler stated that this will both facilitate bureaucratic procedures and strengthen the access of those living abroad to public services.

Abdullah Güler stated that the financial rights of civil servants and contracted personnel who actually work overtime within the Ministry of Youth and Sports will be strengthened, and that the sustainability of units providing 24-hour service in camps during the summer periods will be ensured, adding, "We are allowing workers in the tourism sector to use their weekly leave within a 10-day period. By implementing a more flexible holiday practice, we desire to make work in tourism effective and sustainable."

"WE DESIRE TO EQUALIZE WITH THE 67 AGE LIMIT"

Noting that a regulation will be made to accept notifications made via Registered Electronic Mail (KEP) as valid in business relationships, Güler explained that data sharing between private employment agencies and the Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR) will also be made mandatory.

Güler stated that with the proposal, in line with the cancellation decisions of the Constitutional Court, the provincial organizations and revolving fund structures of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security will be given a legal basis, thus eliminating legal loopholes.

Stating that the General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks will be restructured as a public institution with a special budget, Güler continued as follows:

"With the regulations made in the Turkish Armed Forces Personnel Law, we desire to increase the number of generals and admirals whose service terms can be extended by the decision of the Supreme Military Council. We are making the age limit for force commanders equal to that of the Chief of General Staff and are providing our President with the opportunity to extend it as well. In this period when regional war risks have increased, the Russia-Ukraine war continues, and the Israel-Iran war and Israel's aggressive stance contain risks in a regional sense, we desire to equalize our highly experienced force commanders with the 67 age limit, which is the retirement age limit of our Chief of General Staff."

Stating that a regulation will be made so that grants provided by the European Union and international organizations can also be used effectively and efficiently by the designated public institutions, Güler said, "The minimum payment rights of our citizens receiving old-age, disability, and death pensions are protected, and the procedures and principles regarding these payments are ensured to be determined by the Social Security Institution through regulation."

STATEMENT REGARDING OLIVE GROVES

Reacting to reports by some journalists regarding the regulation on olive grove areas in the legislative proposal, which includes regulations for energy and mining fields, Güler claimed that this regulation was "clearly lied about and distorted with false information."

Reminding of the power outages experienced in some countries, Güler stated that base-load power plants, including thermal power plants, must be put into operation to prevent this from happening.

Güler stated that the olive grove areas in the basins of thermal power plants will be moved to reach the coal in the region, and that a regulation will be made in this direction.

Expressing that when the AKP came to power, Turkey's olive tree assets were 90 million, Güler said that this figure was increased to 210 million during their term in power.

"WE WILL EVALUATE THE RATES"

Upon being asked whether the lowest pension will be increased, Güler reported that they have held meetings with Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan, and Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek under the instruction of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Stating that they have requested information for the impact analysis on this issue, Güler noted that with the announcement of the TUIK data on July 3, the inflation difference for civil servants and retirees will emerge.

Reminding that the lowest pension is 14 thousand 469 liras, Güler stated that this figure concerns 3 million 716 thousand retirees.

Güler said, "We will evaluate the figures and rates with impact analyses. I estimate that our legislative proposal will be discussed in the Planning and Budget Committee on Thursday. After the figure is announced, we will make our final evaluation and clarify the figure. The regulation will be added to this proposal."

News Source: 12punto