Turkey says German politicians 'bow to populism'

By Ilkay Guder

ANKARA (AA) - Turkish presidential spokesman on Monday said German politicians had "bowed to populism" ahead of the upcoming general elections in their country.

"Submission of German mainstream politics to populism and otherizing would only fuel discrimination and racism,” Ibrahim Kalin wrote on Twitter.

His remarks came after German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her center-left rival Martin Schulz clashed over Germany’s Turkey policy in a televised debate on Sunday night, three weeks before the September 24 general elections.

The Social Democrat Party (SDP) leader Schulz called for a tougher line on Turkey, and in a surprise move, suggested immediately stopping Ankara’s EU membership talks, and freezing €4 billion ($4.68 billion) pre-accession funds.

"If I become the Chancellor, I will cancel Turkey’s EU membership talks,” he said amid escalating tensions between Germany and Turkey.

Responding to the duel, Kalin said: "Attacking Turkey and Erdogan while ignoring the fundamental and urgent problems of Germany and Europe is a reflection of a narrowing vision in Europe.

"Isn’t Germany, which openly embraces organizations such as PKK and FETO, aware that it is defending terrorists and coup plotters instead of [defending] democracy?" he asked.

The spokesman also criticized Merkel and Schulz for making no mention of discrimination and rising racism in their country during the debate.

"It is not important which party will win the German elections because it is now clear which mentality will win," Kalin added.

"We hope that this problematic atmosphere which has made Turkish-German relations the victim of a narrow political vision will change as soon as possible," the spokesman added.

Despite Schulz’s unexpected political maneuver on Sunday night, Chancellor Merkel maintained her cautious approach and defended her policy of engaging in dialogue with Turkey to overcome ongoing tensions.

"I do not have the intention of breaking off diplomatic relations with Turkey," she stressed.

Merkel also argued that stopping Turkey's EU membership talks might send a wrong message to Turkish citizens who continue to support democratic reforms, and the country’s EU membership bid.

Tensions between Berlin and Ankara further escalated last week after German politicians sharply criticized arrests of two German citizens of Turkish-descent on Thursday in Turkey, on suspicion of supporting terrorist groups.

Since the July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey, more than a dozen German citizens were arrested on suspicion of providing support to illegal or terrorist groups.

While German politicians demanded their release, Turkish authorities repeatedly underlined that the country’s judiciary was independent, and that any political influence on legal procedures was out of the question.