On Oct. 4, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was about to start his long-awaited visit to Brussels. He had scheduled appointments with the highest officials of the European Union, including President of the European Council Donald Tusk, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz, and pro-government Turks were hoping that Erdogan would regain the favor of the West.

These hopes contrasted with the feelings of the pro-democracy and to a large measure pro-EU circles that have become wary of Erdogan’s increasingly authoritarian tendencies. Many of them have a sense that the Europeans have betrayed them.

In the wake of Erdogan’s visit to Brussels, it seems that both sides were off the mark. The talks with the highest EU officials did not alter the prevailing malaise between the EU and Turkey and did little for Erdogan in the runup to Turkey’s elections. Any step that Erdogan takes in terms of domestic politics or in the domain of foreign policy has more to do with the elections than anything else.

The misleading assessments on his talks with the EU officials began with the press coverage prior to the visit. A Guardian article published the first day of his Brussels visit read, “Facing an escalating migrant crisis and threat from [the Islamic State], Brussels is desperate for the cooperation of Turkey’s president.” It went on, “But as he headed for Brussels on Sunday for two days of talks, his first visit since he abruptly canceled a 2011 trip, EU leaders are painfully aware the tables have turned.