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Erdogan’s domestic agenda leaves Turkey facing new foreign crises

Ankara is furious as European countries ban rallies by Turkish ministers aimed at getting support of expatriate Turks for Erdogan’s executive presidency.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel walk past a picture of Turkish Republic state founder Kemal Atatuerk before their bilateral meeting at the presidential palace during the first visit since July's failed coup in Ankara, Turkey, February 2, 2017.      REUTERS/Umit Bektas      TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTX2ZBPW

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s antipathy for the West has boiled over again. He is back to hurling furious insults at various European countries — mainly Germany, the principal target of his current fury.

At issue this time is the refusal by local German authorities to allow Turkish ministers to hold political rallies in their districts, which have large Turkish communities, in support of amendments to the Turkish Constitution that would give Erdogan extraordinary powers and make him Turkey’s sole leader.

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