Turkish ruling party moves to end European campaigning
ISTANBUL — Turkish lawmakers are wrapping up political campaign events in Europe ahead of a referendum on expanding the powers of the country’s president, in a move that could reduce tensions after a bitter spat with some European nations.
Dutch and German restrictions on Turkish officials who have tried to campaign for diaspora votes on the constitutional referendum angered Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who compared the two European countries to the Nazi regime. European leaders, in turn, said Erdogan’s remarks were unacceptable.
“It is just that with the closing of Parliament, the representatives will be heading to their districts, everyone will primarily be working at their electoral districts,” an official of Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party said on Tuesday by telephone from party headquarters in Ankara, the capital.
The official, who spoke on customary condition of anonymity, said the decision has nothing to do with the animosity between European nations and Turkey.