Turkey calls off campaigns in Germany before plebiscite

BERLIN // Turkey yesterday cancelled all future campaign appearances by its politicians in Germany before next month’s referendum on expanding president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s powers. On Monday, German chancellor Angela Merkel warned that Germany could issue a blanket ban against future campaign events by Turkish politicians unless Ankara stops its Nazi jibes against Germany. Such comments were “breaking every taboo, without con- sideration for the suffering of those who were persecuted and murdered” by the Nazis, she said.

There have been three weeks of furious exchanges between Turkey and the European Union over the pro-Erdogan rallies that were banned in some EU member states.

“All future events that were planned have been cancelled. That is a decision that was made in Ankara,” said Mr Erdogan’s AKP party.

Turkish ministers eager to court 1.4 million Turkish voters in Germany have sought to whip up support for a “yes” vote in the April 16 referendum on scrapping the premier’s post and creating an executive presidency.

However, several were recently rebuffed when German local and state authorities blocked the rallies, citing logistical reasons.

Ankara reacted with fury, with Mr Erdogan accusing Germany of Nazi practices, sparking uproar in Europe.