Gen. Necdet Ozel, commander of Gendarmerie paramilitary force, meets with President Abdullah Gul at the Presidential Palace of Cankaya in Ankara, Turkey, late Friday, July 29. Gul approved the appointment of Ozel as the new commander of Turkey’s Land Forces, hours after the country’s Chief of Staff and other top army commander have resigned. / AP / Turkish Presidency Press Service

ISTANBUL — In past decades, the Turkish military showed displeasure with civilian leaders by overthrowing them. This time, the upset generals quit, a move that only strengthened the hand of an elected government that has in turn been accused of targeting opponents at the expense of democracy. The decline of military clout in Turkey, a NATO member with a robust economy and an activist foreign policy, is welcome for many Turks who believe any political role for commanders is a throwback to the era of coups and instability that once sullied their international image. It’s also key to Turkey’s bid to join the European Union, though the candidacy is adrift because of mutual skepticism on a host of issues.