Turkey’s parliament has approved new legislation granting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan the power to unilaterally modify promotion timelines for officers and noncommissioned officers in the Turkish Armed Forces. The move further expands presidential authority over the military’s personnel system.
The measure, adopted late Thursday as part of a wider legislative package amending several laws and decrees, allows the president to change the time-in-rank requirements by decree when there are imbalances in rank distribution across the military services. The law states that adjustments can be made if there is an “excess or deficiency” of personnel at particular ranks that affects staffing and operational needs.
The government has defended the change as necessary to maintain readiness and ensure proper personnel management. Officials argue that the flexibility will help address staffing challenges and support military efficiency.
Since the 2016 coup attempt, which resulted in mass purges within the armed forces and tighter government control, the military’s promotion system has come under increasing civilian oversight. The new law gives the president direct authority to influence the pace of career progression — a process previously guided by fixed timelines linked to seniority, performance, and statutory requirements.
Critics have voiced concerns that the reform could weaken merit-based advancement and increase political influence over the military’s chain of command. Some military analysts warn that the new discretion could create inconsistencies in how promotions are handled and may prioritize loyalty over competence.
In most NATO countries, officer promotions are determined through competitive processes that include independent reviews and statutory criteria. Turkey’s system has traditionally relied heavily on time-in-rank in addition to performance evaluations and education requirements.
The law will come into effect upon publication in the Official Gazette.
