My question is...why did he have promotion privileges in the first place?

My clan's rule with mergers is the leader gets an officer position, but to promote other people they have to be approved by us (however, we normally don't allow it, since we have a three-rank structure and officers are trusted long-standing members; the new leader-officer has limited officer powers as well, just so we don't get burned)


Yes, you shouldn't be able to promote above your position...but...you probably shouldn't be so "free" with privileges on new members.