Last weekend the quarrel of Turkey with Europe deteriorated: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the government of the Netherlands in Nazism, and in two European countries, Turkish politicians are not allowed to participate in events or revoked their invitation. It all happens on the eve of the referendum, which will be submitted the new Constitution of Turkey. About it writes edition The New York Times, reports inopressa.ru.
As noted that Turkish President Erdogan had earlier criticized German officials for a ban on Turkish officials to participate in events related to the referendum. Now, however, he unleashed wrath upon the Netherlands because the Dutch authorities have banned the foreign Minister of Turkey to arrive in the country on the rally, and then escorted from the Netherlands, the Turkish Minister for family Affairs.
“By the Dutch, who are usually without prejudice to different points of view, it was an extremely energetic reaction. But now in the Netherlands the midst of the election campaign and its main themes of immigration and integration”, – notes the newspaper.
The authors recall: “Despite the formal prohibition of this practice in the Turkish legislation, the Turkish Ministers are touring around Europe, persuading numerous Turkish Diaspora vote for the extension of the powers of Erdogan. There are fears that the referendum in April will prevail, the opponents of empowerment”.
But the campaign of the Turkish politicians have entered the controversy with a sharp pre-election struggle in the Netherlands and in France. “There are right-wing politicians trying to gain political capital by inciting of tensions with the Turks,” say the journalists. In parallel, Europe is concerned about the curtailment of democracy in Turkey and experiencing the growing concerns on issues of immigration and integration.
In the Netherlands to benefit from the dispute with Turkey had hoped and the Prime Minister-conservative, mark Rutte, and his right-wing opponent Geert Wilders. “Wilders first raised the issue publicly, but Rutte may declare the credit for preventing the Turkish Ministers at events,” the authors write.
The result Rutte “had the opportunity to demonstrate what it means to leadership,” says an expert on political strategy, Bianca pander. She stressed that now Rutte is plastered all over the television, in the Newspapers.
Erdogan, for his part, said on Sunday: “the Netherlands if elections in this environment you’re sacrificing Turkish-Dutch relations, you will pay for this”.
“Meanwhile, in Turkey, Erdogan is also accused of trying to flatter the electorate. Since the outcome of the referendum is unclear, some critics of the President assert that he provokes a quarrel with Europe, in order to enlist the support of the nationalists in Turkey, which has not yet decided whether to support the extension of its powers”, – stated in the article.
“Currently, Turkey does not have any foreign policy, says Turkish columnist and researcher Cengiz chandar. – Turkish foreign policy is associated with Erdogan’s campaign before the referendum”.
But others supported the position of Erdogan. The leader of the largest opposition party Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the opponent of the draft Constitution, called on the President to suspend relations with the Netherlands.
Some analysts say the moves by the Turkish government in Europe – a purposeful nod to the Turkish “nationalist movement Party” (MHP). “It traditionally refers to Erdogan wary, but its management now supports expanded powers, because secretly hopes to reward its leaders will become more influential,” – said in the article.
Alexander Clarkson (king’s College, London) believes that the public stance of Erdogan against Germany and the Netherlands in fact is not directed to the Diaspora, and the domestic audience. Erdoğan and his party due to its sharp statements “can say: we defend the rights of Turks abroad.”
Meanwhile, “Erdogan was accused of hypocrisy for criticizing alleged authoritarianism of Europe, parallel to the leading wide persecution of dissent in the country”, – the newspaper writes, Recalling the arrests and purges after a failed coup attempt last year. Chandar said: “Turkey has become a Republic of fear.”
We will remind, the Dutch Prime Minister mark Rutte has refused to apologize on behalf of the government for refusing to admit into the country the aircraft with the Minister of foreign Affairs of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu.
