Ankara – A presidential decree announced Tuesday initiated a sweeping reshuffle of leadership positions within several Turkish ministries and public institutions, impacting both the Ministry of Labor and Social Security and the Ministry of National Education. The personnel changes, which include both appointments and removals of high-ranking officials, come amid ongoing assessments of governmental efficiency and public service delivery following a period of political recalibration for the ruling party. These adjustments signal a strategic move to address current challenges and streamline operations across key sectors of the Turkish government.
AA
February 06, 2026 00:30
Key Appointments and Removals Announced in Turkish Government
A series of personnel changes were announced Tuesday across several Turkish ministries and public institutions, signaling a reshuffling of leadership positions within the government. The appointments, formalized through a presidential decree, come as the administration navigates ongoing economic and social challenges.
Yunus Elitaş has been appointed as the new head of the Social Security Institution, according to the official announcement. This appointment was made in accordance with articles 2 and 3 of Presidential Decree No. 3.
Celalettin Sıvacı was also named to the Social Security Institution’s Board of Directors, filling an existing vacancy.
The decree also included the removal of several high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security and the Social Security Institution. Bekir Aktürk, head of the Ministry’s Guidance and Inspection Board, İbrahim Esenkar, General Director of Occupational Health and Safety, and İsmail Ertüzün, Deputy Director of the Social Security Institution, have all been relieved of their duties.
Several new appointments were made within the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. Harun Aydoğmuş and Cem Gökmen Gökçe were appointed as Deputy General Directors for International Labor, while Selim Dağlıoğlu will serve as Deputy General Director for Foreign Affairs and European Union Relations. Salih Turgay Işık was named Deputy General Director of Legal Services, and Rıfat Koray Köprülüoğlu will lead the Social Security Institution’s Guidance and Inspection Board. More information about the Ministry of Labor and Social Security can be found here.
Changes also extended to the Ministry of National Education. Muammer Öztürk was removed from his position as Provincial Director of National Education in Çankırı. Ayhan Işık was appointed to lead the Çankırı Provincial Directorate, while Gürhan Çokgezer will head the Bursa Provincial Directorate. Ahmet Alireisoğlu, previously the Bursa Provincial Director, has been appointed to the same role in Edirne. Mehmet Nurettin Aras will move from Van to lead the Adana Provincial Directorate, and Bilal Yılmaz Çandıroğlu will take the helm in Van, transferring from Şırnak. Selehattin Kal was named the new Provincial Director of National Education for Balıkesir. Details on the Ministry of National Education are available here.
Hacı Atakan Doğan was appointed as an inspector within the Ministry of National Education. These appointments reflect a broader effort to adjust leadership within key educational posts across the country.
