A newly adopted law will allow Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to unilaterally change the time-in-rank requirements for promotions in the Turkish Armed Forces, a move that further expands his control over the military.
The measure, approved by parliament late Thursday as part of a broader legislative package amending multiple laws and decrees, enables Erdoğan to adjust promotion wait times by presidential decree when imbalances occur in the rank distribution of the military services.
According to the legislation, the president can shorten or extend the time required for officers and noncommissioned officers to be eligible for promotion if “excess or deficiency” in the number of personnel at certain ranks creates staffing issues. The government has justified the change as a necessary tool to maintain operational readiness and personnel balance.
The reform follows a broader pattern of expanding presidential authority over the military since a coup attempt in 2016, after which thousands of officers were purged and the command structure was put under tighter government oversight. The latest change gives the executive new discretion in shaping the pace of career progression in the armed forces, which had previously followed relatively fixed timelines tied to seniority and performance evaluations.
Critics argue the reform risks undermining merit-based advancement and may increase Erdoğan’s direct influence over the chain of command. Military analysts warn that allowing the president to alter promotion intervals could create unequal treatment among officers and incentivize loyalty over competence.
In most NATO member states, officer promotions follow a structured, competitive process involving independent review boards and statutory guidelines. While Turkey’s military also uses performance evaluations and education requirements, time-in-rank has historically played a central role in determining eligibility. By granting the president authority to override these timelines, the new law shifts even more influence over military careers to the executive branch.
The law will enter into force upon publication in the Official Gazette.