Interior Minister Backs Politicization Of Gendarmerie

Interior Minister Efkan Ala has expressed his support for the subordination of the Gendarmerie General Command to his ministry, saying it is natural for the bureaucracy to serve politicians, though the General Staff recently voiced deep concerns about the government initiative.

In response to a journalist's question on whether there are plans to politicize the Gendarmerie General Command through a new security package, Minister Ala backed the subordination of the gendarmerie to the Interior Ministry, saying, “Politicians make decisions, and the bureaucracy implements those decisions.”

The Interior Ministry will be restructured with the new security package that Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu spoke about on Tuesday, describing it as a revolutionary move.

The Gendarmerie General Command and the Coast Guard Command will be made subordinate to the Interior Ministry by the new security package.

Davutoğlu said that with the new security package, those forces will be under the authority of the Interior Ministry, except for in relation to military issues. Members of the gendarmerie will also wear a new uniform to be designed by the ministry.

The government plan has reportedly caused a crisis between the government and the General Staff, as the Taraf daily reported on Thursday that the General Staff opposes the proposal, saying the planned change might create security vulnerabilities.

The General Staff said in its report that the subordination of the gendarmerie to the Interior Ministry would affect the military's manpower, as it would be deprived of 160,000 troops currently under its command.

Military sources who asked to remain anonymous have said the new security bill will bring the gendarmerie under full government control. They further stressed that the new regulation would politicize the military and render the Gendarmerie a tool for the government.

Currently, the General Staff trains and educates the troops and personnel of the Gendarmerie and can call on them for military operations in extraordinary circumstances.

The government, meanwhile, insists on redesigning the gendarmerie because of fears that its units might be used in a potential corruption operation against the government. (Cihan/Today's Zaman)

SHOTLIST
TURKEY, ANKARA, 24 OCT 2014

Press members asking questions
VAR of Minister Ala's remarks

DURATION: 02:25