TURKIYE

President gives himself powers to appoint rectors

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a decree stripping the country’s education watchdog, YÖK, of much of its supervisory powers, and gave himself sole authority to appoint university rectors, reports Ahval.

The country’s science and technology research council, TUBITAK, also loses much of its executive remit to Erdogan’s palace upon the introduction of a full presidential system in Turkey, Cumhuriyet newspaper reported. Erdogan is imparting a vice-like grip on political and social life in Turkey after winning enhanced powers at an election on 24 June.

Erdogan also gave himself sole authority to appoint the governor of the central bank and his deputies. He also placed his son-in-law, Berat Albayrak, in charge of the treasury and finance ministry. One of his closest advisers, Mustafa Varank, becomes industry and technology minister in the new presidential cabinet.
Full report on the Ahval site