Merkel demands release of Germans held by Turkey

THE German chancellor called for a new hardline approach in Europe’s relations with Turkey yesterday, describing developments there as “worrying”.

“The EU must not be divided on this issue. That would greatly weaken Europe,” Angela Merkel told MPS.

She used her final speech to parliament before elections in three weeks to demand the release of several German nationals being held in Turkey.

“We will do everything, at all levels, to secure their release,” she said.

It was a combative appearance from the chancellor.

“We have achieved a lot in the past four years,” she said. “Germany is doing well. But we cannot afford to rest.”

She traded barbs with MPS from her junior coalition partner and main rival in the election, the Social Democratic Party (SPD). When the SPD’S Hubertus Heil tried to claim credit for his party for many of the coalition’s achievements, Mrs Merkel shot him down.

“I’m well aware how many MPS you have, Mr Heil,” she said to applause from her own Christian Democratic Union party (CDU).

“Without me and without my party, you couldn’t have achieved anything in this parliament.”

She was equally blunt over the diesel emissions scandal that has hit the German car industry, accusing car company bosses of “unforgivable mistakes”.

But she ruled out imposing a cut-off date for all new cars to be electric, as the UK and France have done.

“We do not deal in bans,” she said. A gradual transition would be better, she argued. “We will still need the internal combustion engine for many years.”

An opinion poll by the INSA institute has shown the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AFD) in third place, which would see the anti-immigrant party become the main opposition with the “Grand Coalition” between the two biggest parties, the CDU and SPD.