ANKARA – President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Tuesday promoted Turkey´s armycommander to overall armed forces chief in a radical military shake-upafter the outgoing top general was given the post of defence minister.
Turkey´s new government announced late on Monday the appointment of formerchief of staff General Hulusi Akar as defence minister, a rare transitionfrom military ranks to the political realm.
Erdogan then appointed ground forces commander General Yasar Guler as chiefof staff by presidential decree published in the official gazette.
With more than 900,000 active personnel, Turkey has the second largestforce in NATO after the United States which has almost 1.5 million.
The announcement comes as NATO meets in Brussels amid tensions overspending.
Erdogan was sworn in Monday for a second presidential term under acontroversial new system that will centralise all institutions, includingthe army, under the presidency.
Erdogan was granted sweeping powers in the new executive presidentialsystem, meaning he can directly appointing top military figures.
Under the new decree, Erdogan will decide on the promotion of top armyofficers including colonels, brigadier generals, admirals and generals inthe Turkish armed forces.
The official appointment of the army officers usually takes place on August30 every year. The term of duty for the top army general is four years.
Guler, 64, along with Akar and top commanders, had been abducted to amilitary base by the putschists on the night of the 2016 coup aimed atunseating Erdogan´s government.
Ankara accuses US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen of mastermindingthe coup bid — a charge he strongly denies.
Turkey has launched a massive purge aimed at ending Gulen´s influence,dismissing thousands of soldiers including half the pre-coup contingent ofgenerals.
According to the new decree, deputy chief of staff General Umit Dundar wasappointed land forces commander.
Dundar played a key role in thwarting the coup attempt. In a live statementto television channels on the night, he said: “That is a movement notsupported by the Turkish armed forces.”
Erdogan has since defeating the coup bid increased his influence over thearmed forces, who had previously been seen as a parallel power structurethat had repeatedly ousted governments. – APP/AFP