Europe's rhetoric show it losing reason: Erdogan aide

By Ahmet Sait Akcay

ANKARA (AA) – Europe’s reactions in the wake of the Turkish public’s recent approval of constitutional changes show an "eclipse of reason", the president’s spokesman said Monday.

“We will not allow such rhetoric to become widespread and normal. For it is an effort to lay additional groundwork for something else,” Ibrahim Kalin told a press conference at the presidential complex in the capital Ankara.

Branding remarks by a former French diplomat suggesting the assassination of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan “fascism”, Kalin said, “These remarks are not political analysis or opinion”.

Kalin continued, "[...] in the name of our democracy and the nation’s will, we will do our best to make sure such approaches are not considered normal or legitimate”.

In remarks on French TV, former diplomat Philippe Moreau Defarges said Saturday that in the wake of the April 16 referendum, assassinating Erdogan or civil war were both options for Turkey.

Earlier on Monday Erdogan filed a complaint against Defarges, and Ankara prosecutors launched a probe, according to presidential and judicial sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

Following the backlash, Defarges apologized for the comments Sunday, calling them “inappropriate” and expressing his “deepest sadness”.