Erdogan’s executive challenge editor El Tiempo March 9, 2017

2017-03-09 14:49:42

Cold head. This is what we must ask for Turkey in the continuation of the problems caused with Germany after the arrest in Istanbul of a German-Turkish journalist who was accused of declaring terrorism and canceling the conferences that the government of Recep Tayip Erdogan had decided to hold correction is that. the country in favor of the constitutional referendum of April 16.

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3 million citizens of Turkish origin live in Germany, of which 1.4 million can vote, which is why Ankara considers it the key to campaigning in that country. But in all this process, of the hatred of the highest discourse after the coup attempt last July and all the screws that the Islamist government has taken within the country on the edge of the law (or its violation), Turkey started to cross the red lines. , as bold as to say that the cancellation of political meetings a “Nazi attitude”, an insulting and unacceptable comparison of a country with which Germany is a NATO partner. To which are added accusations that Berlin allows terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) guerrillas in its territory, or of Islamophobia.

But it turns out that the cancellation of these conferences is not the policy of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government, but rather the decisions of local governments that, for material or security reasons, have refused the permits. In fact, in the Netherlands they are exploring legal measures to prevent the Turkish Government’s campaign in their country.

Beyond the specific tensions, there is concern in Europe about the drift of Islamist Erdogan’s authority, who took advantage of the effort to launch a campaign of repression and persecution to eliminate any hint of opposition, and create the environment to bring Turkey to the consultation of will give him all powers, The closest thing to a democracy under the shell of a democracy.

But neither Germany nor Europe should fall into resentment. Turkey is key in receiving waves of immigrants to its territory, so diplomacy and common sense, but firmness, are the best cards to face this authoritarian challenge.