With latest appointment, Erdoğan-appointed justices now hold majority in Constitutional Court

Duvar English

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on July 19 selected Metin Kıratlı, the Director of Administrative Affairs of the Presidency, as a justice to the Constitutional Court (AYM).

Kıratlı was appointed to replace Justice Muhammed Emin Kuz whose term ended on May 12.

Kıratlı was appointed as the Deputy Secretary General of the Presidency after Erdoğan was first elected as the president in 2014. 

He has been serving as the Director of Administrative Affairs of the Presidency since 2018, during Erdoğan’s second and third term in office. His office was designated as the “highest-ranking civil servant” according to the legislation on the presidential administration organization.

Kıratlı was also appointed as a Member of the Higher Education Council (YÖK).

Members of top court

AYM consists of 15 justices elected for a term of twelve years. 

Deputy President Hasan Tahsin Gökcan and Justice Engin Yıldırım were appointed by former President Abdullah Gül. 

Court President Kadir Özkaya and justices Yıldız Seferinoğlu, Basri Bağcı, İrfan Fidan, Recai Akyel, Yusuf Şevki Hakyemez, and Selahaddin Menteş were appointed by President Erdoğan. 

Justices Kenan Yaşar, Rıdvan Güleç, and Muhterem İnce were appointed by the Parliament.

The terms of three members, appointed by Gül, ended in 2024. Hence, Erdoğan appointed Justice Yılmaz Akçil in January and Ömer Çınar in April. Kıratlı became the third member appointed by Erdoğan in 2024.

Thus, the number of members appointed by Erdoğan increased to 10. The justices appointed by President Erdoğan now hold the majority in the AYM, although they have not always aligned completely with the government’s decisions.

All the members of Turkey's top court are men, and no new appointments are expected until 2026.