13.04.2026 18:21
The decree work regarding the comprehensive changes that Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi will make in the police organization has reached its final stages. With the regulation planned to be completed before the NATO Summit in July, critical changes are expected in the General Directorate of Security and strategic departments. In a process where the retirement age is decisive, the situation of the police departments in Ankara and Istanbul, as well as the positions of past personnel in the new distribution of duties, are being closely monitored.
After the judiciary organization, eyes turned to the changes in the security organization. Following Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi's statements regarding the "changes to be made," it has been learned that the decree work is nearing completion. It is noted in the corridors that the decree, which will make significant changes in the central and provincial organization, will be submitted to President Erdoğan for approval in the coming days and will then be published in the Official Gazette and come into force. It is stated that the governors' decree will be on the agenda after the police chiefs.
WHICH NAMES ARE BEING DISCUSSED?
In the corridors, it is expressed that, as in previous periods, a name from the administrative authority may be appointed to the General Directorate of Security. The names of Kocaeli Governor İlhami Aktaş, Muğla Governor İdris Akbıyık, Bayburt Governor Mustafa Eldivan, Kayseri Governor Gökmen Çiçek, and Diyarbakır Governor Murat Zorluoğlu are prominent. The name of Deputy General Director of Security Mahmut Çorumlu, as well as that of the Secretary General of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Kürşat, who has previously held senior management positions in the Ministry of Interior and also served as Deputy Minister of Health, is also mentioned in the corridors.
CHANGE IN DEPUTY DIRECTORATES
New appointments will be made to replace two names among the Deputy Directors of Security who will retire due to age limit. Additionally, the number of deputy directors, which was previously seven, has been reduced to five. It is noted that Minister Çiftçi may appoint two more names, thus making four deputy director appointments.
DECREE ADJUSTMENT FOR NATO SUMMIT
It is stated that Minister Mustafa Çiftçi plans to include some names who will reach the age limit in the summer in the decree, aiming to complete the changes in the security organization before the NATO summit to be held in Ankara on July 7-8. With the advancement of the decree, it is recorded that the goal is for everyone to be in control of their area of responsibility before the NATO summit.
Ankara Police Chief Engin Dinç is also among those who are set to retire due to age limit.
In the changes regarding provincial police chiefs, it is expressed that appointments to replace those who are retiring due to age limit will be prominent.
ISTANBUL REMAINS UNCERTAIN
Claims that Istanbul Police Chief Selami Yıldız may also be among the names to be changed had come up in the past, but it remains uncertain whether Yıldız will be included in the decree.
ALL EYES ON YERLİKAYA'S DECISIONS
The former Special Operations Chief Süleyman Karadeniz, who came to the agenda by kissing the hand of MHP Leader Devlet Bahçeli during the visit on the 8th anniversary of July 15, has been appointed as the police chief of Muğla by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, and this appointment was considered a demotion at that time. It is a matter of curiosity whether Süleyman Karadeniz will be given a new task with the new decree.
Due to the changes in positions made during Ali Yerlikaya's term, allegations that the team of the previous Minister Süleyman Soylu was dismissed have frequently been mentioned. Now, there is curiosity about the new Minister Mustafa Çiftçi's decisions regarding the names who worked with former ministers. Hasan Yiğit, the Head of the Counter-Terrorism Department, who worked closely with Soylu, was appointed first to Balıkesir and then to Kahramanmaraş as police chief by Yerlikaya. It is also wondered whether Yiğit will be given a position in the central organization in the new term.
Similarly, among the names in Soylu's close team, it is also a matter of curiosity whether Sabit Akın Zaimoğlu, the former Head of Intelligence and Antalya Police Chief, will be assigned to a position in the center.