Germany warns of halt to EU accession talks with Türkiye

European officials have called on Türkiye to abide by the law in its purge of soldiers, police, judges, officials, teachers and others.

An ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on the European Union on Tuesday to suspend talks on the country's accession process following a failed coup by a group of Turkish military officials that left 246 people dead.

European officials have called on Türkiye to comply with the law in its purge of soldiers, police, judges, officials, teachers... who have been suspended, arrested and investigated for their involvement in the recent coup.

The leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), the ruling ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union, Horst Seehofer, said that if there is any evidence that the Turkish government violated the law during the investigation of the coup, the negotiations to join the European Union (EU) must end immediately.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel also warned that Türkiye would not be able to join the European Union if it reinstated the death penalty (illustrative photo)

Earlier, in a phone call with the Turkish President earlier this week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel also warned that Türkiye would not be able to join the European Union if it re-enacted the death penalty as proposed by some members of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Türkiye abolished the sentence in 2004, paving the way for talks to join the European Union a year later, but the process has so far made little progress.

A spokesman for the German Chancellor has just said that the country is closely monitoring developments in Türkiye and affirmed that any decision on Türkiye's negotiations to join the European Union must be based on the collective opinion of the countries' leaders.

On the same day, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim affirmed that "Türkiye's institutions are guided by the rule of law, not by revenge after the recent failed coup."

He also said that the risk of another coup in the country has not yet passed, but the government and other institutions have controlled the situation. Prime Minister Yildirim called on the Turkish people to remain calm and affirmed that life has returned to normal but vigilance is still needed./.

According to VOV