Allianz Deutscher Demokraten (ADD), a political party founded by people of Turkish origin in Germany, is playing “Dombra,” the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) election campaign song, on campaign vehicles and is using Turkey’s autocratic President Tayyip Erdoğan’s picture on their campaign posters.
Following Erdoğan’s call on Turks living in Germany not to vote for parties treating Turkey as an enemy, the ADD is campaigning with the slogan “Stand together with Turkey’s friends, vote for them, help them increase their power.”
“Never vote for parties that are the enemy of Turkey. Go with Turkey-friendly parties. Don’t worry if the parties are small. Let’s make them bigger,” Erdoğan had said.
Erdoğan recently endorsed the ADD, expressing hope that the party would participate in elections all over Germany.
“A party was founded with the name ‘ADD.’ I think the majority of people who established the party are our kin. They might have used my name thinking it was a unifying factor among Turks there. If my picture can contribute to their strength, I will be happy. I hope they participate in elections all over Germany,” said Erdoğan, referring to the new party’s use of his picture and name on their campaign posters.
Underlining that the participation of the ADD in elections is an important step on the way to European Parliament elections, Erdoğan said: “I believe this is a good step. They won’t be afraid. They will present themselves well. They will participate in the elections. It will be good to see the strength of our kin there.”
Meanwhile, German Ambassador to Turkey Martin Erdmann went to the Foreign Ministry and met with officials on Monday, the second visit in three days, after he was summoned on Saturday to hear criticism of activities in Germany allegedly linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
According to the Hürriyet daily, Turkish officials had invited Erdmann 10 days ago for the Monday meeting; however, news spread in the Turkish media that the German envoy had been summoned again.
The ministry declined to provide details of the meeting.
Earlier on Monday, Der Spiegel reported that Ankara wanted to raise the issue of a German parliamentary motion last year that described the 1915 killings of Armenians under Ottoman rule as genocide, a term that Ankara rejects.
“We condemn the permission given for an activity and propaganda of the terrorist PKK in the German city of Cologne. Our position has been expressed to the German ambassador, who was summoned to the ministry,” the foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday. (SCF with turkishminute.com)
