ANKARA \u2014 Numerous security and procurement challenges have welcomed\u00a0Turkey’s new military top brass, including renewed violence with the country’s restive Kurds after a two-year\u00a0cease-fire, and potentially could increase the military’s influence over procurement programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turkey’s Supreme Military Council, chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, convened Aug. 3-5 to decide on its\u00a0annual military reshuffle and promotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turkey\u2019s inconclusive June 7 parliamentary elections ended the ruling Justice and Development Party\u2019s (AKP) parliamentary majority for the first time since 2002. Since then, the AKP has conducted since then has been in <\/span>unsuccessful coalition talks with the opposition and renewed parliamentary elections in November are highly likely.\u00a0 “A weakened government will mean a bigger military say in most of these programs,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A political analyst here agrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Facing multiple threats the government fears losing votes due to daily loss of human lives and it needs the military to help counter these threats more than ever,” he said. “In return, the government may have to compromise to the generals in administering procurement programs.”