Turkey’s snap elections set to escalate tensions with Europe
Questions about the fairness of the June 24 elections and bans prohibiting Turkish politicians from campaigning in parts of Europe signal new strains ahead in Turkey’s relations with the West.
Ankara’s already strained relations with the West are heading for heightened tensions following President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s call for snap presidential and parliamentary elections to be held June 24. At issue are bans in Austria, Germany and the Netherlands prohibiting Turkish politicians from canvassing expatriate Turks there and the possibility that other EU members might follow suit.
The stances by Austria, Germany and the Netherlands are significant, as they host most of the more than 3.5 million Turks living in Europe. Ankara’s ties with them took a nosedive last year after they prevented members of the Turkish government, including by force in the Netherlands, from holding rallies prior to the highly controversial Turkish constitutional referendum in April 2017. The government-proposed referendum resulted in a slim majority, with overwhelming support by expatriate Turks, overturning Turkey’s parliamentary democracy in favor of an executive presidency.
Critics in Turkey and Europe point to the lack of checks and balances on the executive under the presidential system, arguing that it represents a move toward paternalistic one-man rule. The new system was to be introduced next year following presidential and parliamentary elections planned for 2019. Erdogan’s call for snap elections means Turkey’s transition to the new and contentious system of government will happen much sooner.
Erdogan seems confident about winning the elections. The support of millions of Turks in Europe remains crucial, however, because he needs to emerge with a majority that lends moral legitimacy to his claim to being the leader of the entire nation.
