Dispute Over MGK Secretary General Appointment Strains Ankara's Presidential-Government Relations

A disagreement between Türkiye's presidency and government over who should lead the National Security Council (MGK) has deepened, according to Sabah columnist Metehan Demir.

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has reportedly backed Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, Türkiye's ambassador to Berlin, for the MGK secretary general post. Irtemcelik, 42, is among the country's youngest ambassadors and previously served as a member of parliament under the Motherland Party during Mesut Yilmaz's premiership. He later resigned from a ministerial role over conflicts with former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, particularly regarding EU policy.

The government, however, is pushing for Ecvet Tezcan, Türkiye's ambassador in Warsaw. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is said to be considering a direct meeting with the president to press the case for Tezcan.

If neither side yields, one option under discussion is retaining the current MGK secretary general, Yigit Alpogan. Demir concludes that the standoff among senior state officials over the MGK appointment is growing more complicated.

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in November 2006, in its own words.