High Advisory Board

Tens of thousands of people on Jan. 1 gathered at a massive rally in Istanbul to commemorate the Turkish soldiers killed in a terrorist attack in Iraq and to show solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

İYİ (Good) Party leader Meral Akşener has said they are in favor of continuing the Nation Alliance, noting the rumors about the government aiming to make changes in the electoral system.

Presidential High Advisory Board member and former Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç resigned on Nov. 24 after his division with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over the imprisonment of jailed philanthropist Osman Kavala and former Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş.

High Advisory Board of Turkish presidency gathered on June 16 to discuss how to respond to "groundless and anti-Turkey allegations" regarding the events of 1915. 

The issue of performing Islamic prayers at the Hagia Sophia next month was discussed at a meeting of the High Advisory Board of the Turkish presidency, as the status of the landmark historical structure is a widely debated subject in local politics.

Some circles are seeking to use the Armenian allegations over the events of 1915 to create divisions within the Turkish community, the country's communications director said Jan. 14.

Fahrettin Altun's remarks came after a meeting of the High Advisory Board under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the capital Ankara.

Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD) High Advisory Board Chair Tuncay Özilhan has urged for a “normalization” in the country and a “revision” of state of emergency conditions, stating that Turkey’s recent record on democracy is having a negative effect on investments and the economy.

Turkey's top business organization has urged the country's new cabinet to address and solve the problems plaguing judicial independence and media freedom immediately with a series of "required reforms," adding normalization was "crucial." 

Turkish authorities are ready to compensate Turkish exporters over possible losses stemming from Russian sanctions, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu said late Dec. 2. 

"I want to express to our business world that whoever is damaged by these sanctions, our measures to compensate them are already ready now," he said.