A.P. Richelieu
SENIOR MEMBER
http://www.dn.se/ledare/signerat/gunnar-jonsson-erdogan-har-ingen-plats-i-eu/ (translated)
Angela Merkel and her challenger in German elections, Martin Schulz, want to stop EU membership negotiations with Turkey. Because the conditions for results are missing.
Some enthusiasm hardly caused the German election movement's only television debate between Angela Merkel and Martin Schulz. More duet than duel, said the channel ARD's commentator. Christian Democratic CDU and Social Democratic SPD are in the same large coalition, and the two main candidates agreed most of the time.
At one point, however, there was a message of potential to be important: Turkey.
"If I were Chancellor, I would terminate the EU membership negotiations", said Schulz. "Yes, Turkey can not become a member of the Union", Merkel agreed.
Both of course know that Germany does not decide on its own, all EU countries must be united. Merkel stressed that she had to talk to the others first. Schulz line does not match SPD's election manifesto. But the signal was still heard.
President Erdogan is becoming increasingly despotic. After the enigmatic coup in the summer of 2016, he has been hunting for the opposition, 50,000 have been imprisoned and another over 100,000 were fired. The regime has taken control over the judiciary branch, all critics are called terrorists. A dozen German citizens are now political prisoners. The "bounteous" Erdogan offers to release them, on condition that Germany handles hundreds of asylum-seeking turks. It's a clean hostage situation.
The charges against Germany have hailed: Nazis, refuge for terrorism. Erdogan has urged Germans of Turkish origin not to vote for the "enemies" CDU or SPD. EU next? Ach Nein.
Actually, Merkel and Schulz said something everyone already knows. Membership negotiations are frozen. Erdogan's Turkey is on the wrong track according to all democratic criteria, and of course, can not be let into the EU. That a dialogue would lead to change is only idle talk at the moment. Nothing indicates that the president intends to stop pursuing his opponents, nor would he be interested in joining the club anymore.
The refugee agreement as Turkish extortion, now works badly, as it is almost impossible to move on from Greece. On the other hand, the EU's has means of pressure , since Turkey is dependent on both foreign trade and investment. In view of all arbitrary arrests, a travel alert to tourists is highly relevant.
There are arguments to maintain the illusion of membership. Turkey is not identical to Erdogan. And the land remains where it lies. But if developments were to change, the EU actually has the chance to change again.
Gunnar Jonsson (DN)
Angela Merkel and her challenger in German elections, Martin Schulz, want to stop EU membership negotiations with Turkey. Because the conditions for results are missing.
Some enthusiasm hardly caused the German election movement's only television debate between Angela Merkel and Martin Schulz. More duet than duel, said the channel ARD's commentator. Christian Democratic CDU and Social Democratic SPD are in the same large coalition, and the two main candidates agreed most of the time.
At one point, however, there was a message of potential to be important: Turkey.
"If I were Chancellor, I would terminate the EU membership negotiations", said Schulz. "Yes, Turkey can not become a member of the Union", Merkel agreed.
Both of course know that Germany does not decide on its own, all EU countries must be united. Merkel stressed that she had to talk to the others first. Schulz line does not match SPD's election manifesto. But the signal was still heard.
President Erdogan is becoming increasingly despotic. After the enigmatic coup in the summer of 2016, he has been hunting for the opposition, 50,000 have been imprisoned and another over 100,000 were fired. The regime has taken control over the judiciary branch, all critics are called terrorists. A dozen German citizens are now political prisoners. The "bounteous" Erdogan offers to release them, on condition that Germany handles hundreds of asylum-seeking turks. It's a clean hostage situation.
The charges against Germany have hailed: Nazis, refuge for terrorism. Erdogan has urged Germans of Turkish origin not to vote for the "enemies" CDU or SPD. EU next? Ach Nein.
Actually, Merkel and Schulz said something everyone already knows. Membership negotiations are frozen. Erdogan's Turkey is on the wrong track according to all democratic criteria, and of course, can not be let into the EU. That a dialogue would lead to change is only idle talk at the moment. Nothing indicates that the president intends to stop pursuing his opponents, nor would he be interested in joining the club anymore.
The refugee agreement as Turkish extortion, now works badly, as it is almost impossible to move on from Greece. On the other hand, the EU's has means of pressure , since Turkey is dependent on both foreign trade and investment. In view of all arbitrary arrests, a travel alert to tourists is highly relevant.
There are arguments to maintain the illusion of membership. Turkey is not identical to Erdogan. And the land remains where it lies. But if developments were to change, the EU actually has the chance to change again.
Gunnar Jonsson (DN)

