Turkey's use of “tensipleriyle” signals growing nepotism in public appointments

The Turkish term “tensipleriyle”, originally meaning “with approval”, has increasingly been used in political and bureaucratic contexts to imply that officials obtain positions through personal connections rather than merit. The article illustrates how the phrase appears in statements such as “with the President’s tensipleriyle I was appointed” and notes that this language shapes public perception, raising doubts about whether appointees are chosen for competence or for patronage.

The piece argues that the shift erodes confidence in institutions, as citizens begin to question the qualifications of leaders in hospitals, universities, banks and local governments when appointments are seen as “someone’s man”. It calls for a return to merit‑based criteria to restore trust in the Turkish state apparatus.