According to a media report, Erdogan’s AKP party is trying to set up a branch in Germany – so that it can initially compete in the European elections. Politicians from several parties expressed alarm.
Politicians from several parties in Germany have expressed concern about the possible creation of a branch of the Turkish AKP party for the upcoming European elections. The background is a report by Bild am Sonntag (BamS) about the founding of a “Turkish-Islamist party” called DAVA (Democratic Alliance for Diversity and Awakening).
The SPD leader Saskia Esken told Welt-TV: “For me it is important that we make it clear to our fellow citizens of Turkish origin in Germany that Germany belongs together, that we are one people, that we will not allow that Forces like these right-wing extremist networks are now coming close to power, which want to deport migrants, but of course the divisive tendencies of Recep Tayyip Erdogan must not play a role here either.”
Özdemir: “The last thing we need”
Federal Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) wrote on Platform X on Sunday: “An Erdogan offshoot running for elections here is the last thing we need.”
Four Top candidates should be established
BamS says it has the founding declaration. Four men are named as the top candidates for the European elections who are said to have previously worked for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Islamic-conservative ruling party AKP or its frontline organizations. Union parliamentary group deputy Jens Spahn (CDU) warned on Platform X, an Erdogan-AKP offshoot in Germany, “that would be another extreme party in the country.”
CDU interior expert Christoph de Vries told BamS that the federal government should “under no circumstances take this party formation lightly.” It is urgent that the security authorities closely monitor all activities of this party and its connections to the Turkish government and intervene if the Turkish government exerts direct influence.