Expatriate Turks started casting their ballots last week for the June 24 snap presidential and parliamentary elections called for by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In the past, Erdogan’s numerous electoral victories could be attributed in part to support from Turks in Europe. Whether this support has done them any good, however, is questionable. Already facing serious problems related to integration and racism, their backing of Erdogan appears to have made their lives more difficult, not simpler. Many argue that this stems from the Turkish president’s innate disdain for the West and his insulting approach to European politicians.

Erdogan set off shock waves last year when he referred to political leaders in Germany, Holland and Austria as Nazis. He had gone ballistic after he and ministers from his Justice and Development Party (AKP) were prevented from canvassing Turks in those countries for the constitutional referendum designed to enhance his hold on power by replacing Turkey’s parliamentary democracy with a presidential system.

After Erdogan announced snap elections in April, Germany, Holland and Austria wasted no time in again banning Turkish politicians from canvassing Turks on their territory. The bans were clearly aimed at Erdogan and the AKP, because Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party was allowed to hold a rally in Berlin in early June.

Of the Turks in Europe eligible to vote in the 2017 referendum, 63% in Germany, 70.1% in Holland and 73.23% in Austria supported amending the constitution, fully aware that it was essentially a vote for Erdogan’s continued leadership. Put another way, the ban on Turkish politicians campaigning in Europe backfired. This outcome shone the spotlight even brighter on the Turkish diaspora in Europe.