AVETIK HARUTYUNYAN
Turkish participation in Gulf War because of the strong opposition of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and especially the military , which had an essential role in decision-making . Although this struggle led to the resignation of the Chief of General Staff and later of the Foreign Minister , in the end it resulted in a balanced approach to the Gulf War . 34
The authority of the president was somewhat enhanced by the Constitutional amendments of 2007 , when the practice of electing the president by the public through general elections was first introduced . 35 The fact of being elected directly by people was meant to emphasize the legitimacy of the president . However , the powers of the President of Turkey were later significantly enhanced by the Constitutional amendments of 2017 . In particular , all executive power was vested in the president ( including the competencies that the Council of Ministers and the prime minister possessed before the amendments ). The president was also granted the right to appoint his deputies and the ministers , who were accountable only to him . 36 The amendments also kept the practice of direct election of the president by the public through general elections held every 5 years . 37 In addition to duties and powers already introduced by the Constitution of 1982 the President was also granted the power to determine national security policies , decide on the use of Turkish Armed Forces , 38 as well as regulate the establishment , abolition , duties , powers , and organizational structure of ministries . 39 Finally , one of the most important changes made by the amendments was the elimination of the obligation for the president to cut his ties with any political party . 40
To summarize , until 2017 , the competencies of the President in terms of foreign policy were quite limited and the president did not bear any political responsibility . However , the president ' s authority to appoint the prime minister , as well as chairing the meetings of the Council of
34
For more details , see : Cameron S . Brown , “ Turkey in the Gulf Wars of 1991 and 2003 ,” Turkish Studies 8 , no . 1 ( March 2007 ): 85-97 , https :// doi . org / 10.1080 / 14683840601162054 . 35 Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Anayasasının Bazı Maddelerinde Değişiklik Yapılması Hakkında
Kanun , No . 5678 , Kabul Tarihi : 31 / 5 / 2007 , Resmî Gazete ։ 16.07.2007 Sayı : 26554 , article 4 , https :// www . resmigazete . gov . tr / eskiler / 2007 / 06 / 20070616-1 . htm . As a result , in 2014 , R . T . Erdogan became the first president in Turkish history to be directly elected by the people ’ s vote through general elections . 36 Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Anayasasında Değişiklik , No . 6771 / 2017 , article 8 and 10 .
37
Ibid , article 7 . It should be noted that the constitutional amendments of 2007 already included the right to elect the president by popular vote instead of by parliament .
38
Ibid , article 8 .
39
Ibid , article 10 .
40
Ibid , article 7 . 39