Auto leader promotion when no others are free

[Telemecus]

When a leader is killed or removed automatically, the AI will always chose another leader who is eligible who has no other command. Sometimes this will include a promotion of one rank.

But what happens if a leader is killed and removed and there are no other leaders without a command even with a promotion of one rank? Will the AI promote a leader who is free of a command up two ranks? Or will it appoint someone who is eligible but commanding another HQ - and then have to find a replacement for them and so on in a chain?

The impression I am starting to get is this situation prevents a leader from ever being killed or removed automatically. This of course can be exploited to prevent good leaders you do not want to lose from being lost!

[Telemecus]

Always hard to prove a negative, but based on experience since it does look like this is preventing leaders from being dismissed.