Berlin, Ankara clash over German election

Relations between Ankara and Berlin have been strained after Türkiye called on Turks in Germany not to vote for the German chancellor's ruling coalition.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan (left) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Photo: Reuters.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on August 18 called on Turks in Germany not to vote for Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel's Social Democratic Party (SDP), or the Green Party, AFP reported. He called these "three parties hostile to Ankara".

The comments come as Germany prepares to hold a general election on September 24.

Foreign Minister Gabriel condemned Mr. Erdogan's comments as "unprecedented interference." Meanwhile, Steffen Seibert, a spokesman for Mrs. Merkel, "hopes that foreign governments do not interfere in Germany's internal affairs." German chancellor candidate Martin Schulz, of the Social Democratic Party, also criticized Mr. Erdogan.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag defended Mr. Erdogan, saying the appeal was directed only at voters of Turkish origin in Germany. "The appeal was very open and clear. But the reactions were very disrespectful and arrogant," Mr. Bozdag said. "I want to condemn these reactions and the disrespectful language contained in them."

Bozdag accused Germany of interfering in Türkiye's April 16 referendum on giving Erdogan more powers. "The German government's stance is clear" in supporting the "no" side.

He also accused Germany of granting asylum to Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) rebels and suspects in the July 15, 2016 military coup who are wanted by Ankara. "Germany supports the PKK," Bozdag said. "The PKK is a terrorist group, but Germany protects them."

Analysts say around 1.2 million people of Turkish origin are eligible to vote in the September election as German citizens.

According to VNE