Over half of export group chiefs to change

ISTANBUL

The Constitutional Court has reversed an application by Turkey’s exporter unions to cancel a decision, which stipulates that any union chief cannot keep a presidency position more than two terms. 

As the top court rejected their application, presidents of more than half of the export unions will change soon, as reported by daily Habertürk on Aug. 15.

This decision was made at the request of the head of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM). 

However, an export union in the Mediterranean resort of Antalya brought the decision to the top court in 2014, citing that a ban preventing export union chiefs from running more than two terms would pose an obstacle before main democratic rights and restrict the right to elect and to be elected.

The Constitutional Court said it did not find this rule against the public good, noting that the rule complied with the equality of opportunity and brought about dynamism to the export unions’ management. 

In line with the top court’s decision, the head of 39 out of 60 export unions will change. 

The rule also covers management of the top industry association TİM.