Germany says Erdogan ‘is not welcome here’ as he aims for more power

Merkel ally shuns Turkish president, who says Ankara may review its relationship with ‘fascist and cruel’ EU

THE Turkish president has warned that Turkey may review its relations with the “fascist and cruel” EU as he urged voters to back him in a referendum that would vastly increase his power.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s string of taunts at Europe, including accusing Germany of “Nazi” tactics, prompted a close political ally of Angela Merkel to say yesterday that the Turkish president was “not welcome” in Germany.

“Enough is enough,” said Volker Bouffier, vice-chairman of Mrs Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU). “Mr Erdoğan and his government are not welcome in our country, and that must now be understood.”

Mr Bouffier said Germany could not be expected to “assemble thousands of police to protect” someone who had behaved so insultingly.

A Turkish expatriate group which has held rallies in Germany on behalf of Mr Erdoğan’s party said in response it would not organise any more events with Turkish officials.

Turkey’s government has stoked the row with Europe for more than a week as it tries to rally nationalist voters ahead of the April 16 referendum, which polls show is a close race between the Yes and No camps.

In the latest of his daily speeches against the EU, Mr Erdoğan said Turkey would emerge stronger after the referendum and may reconsider its relationship with Europe.

“Once April 16 is over, we will sit at the table. This cannot continue this way. We, as Turkey, will do what is necessary,” he said at an event in Ankara that was formally supposed to be on forestry.

Mr Erdoğan said he would no longer allow Europe to dictate to his country by threatening to cancel Turkey’s ap- plication to join the EU or to withhold funds that are paid out under a migrant deal reached last year. “That period is over,” he said.

Negotiations for Turkey to join the EU began in 2005, but few Turks believe their country will ever be allowed to join the bloc. The seemingly endless process is a source of frustration for many people in Turkey.

Mr Erdoğan also warned that he would not allow European “agents” to act within Turkey.

It is not clear which, if any, of his threats the Turkish president plans to carry out.

Ahmet Han, professor of international relations at Kadir Has University, in Istanbul, said Mr Erdoğan was likely to tone down his rhetoric after the referendum because of the importance of the EU to Turkey’s economy.

But he added that Mr Erdoğan might find it difficult to do so, given the fervour with which he has spoken publicly.

“Words in politics have a strange habit of turning into policy and creating a momentum of their own. I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that a toning down would be costlier than desired,” he said.

‘Berlin could not be expected to assemble thousands of police to protect someone who behaved so insultingly’