Germany taking sides in Turkey’s early elections: Turkish deputy PM
YOZGAT – Anadolu Agency
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ on May 27 criticized Germany for allowing a Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) rally in Cologne city, accusing Berlin of taking sides in the upcoming June 24 elections in Turkey.
“They allowed [outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party] PKK [supporters] to hold a rally in Cologne. They are not fair and objective towards Turkey. They do not even need to look fair and objective,” Bozdağ said at a meeting in the Central Anatolian province of Yozgat.
His remarks came a day after the HDP, which the Turkish government accuses of being a political front for the PKK, held a rally in Cologne on May 26.
Almost a thousand PKK supporters gathered in Neumarkt square in Cologne, a spokesman for the German police told state-run Anadolu Agency.
The police did not allow PKK symbols and banners during the rally. However, the group reportedly chanted slogans against Turkey and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
“Germany changed their legislation to prevent all countries to hold rallies in Germany during their election campaigns but their aim was to prevent Turkey,” Bozdağ said.
