The German Greens have declared their support for Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Green Left Party and the leader of the opposition, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, in the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections on 14 May.
The party condemned President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s regime and called for the return of democracy and the rule of law in Turkey in a statement issued on Thursday. They demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners and the resumption of the peace process on the Kurdish question. The Greens also criticised Turkey’s foreign policy, calling for a return to multilateralism.
Ricarda Lang, the federal chairwoman of the Greens and member of the German parliament, shared a series of tweets on Friday in which she reiterated the German Greens’ position in support of the Green Left Party and Kılıçdaroğlu.
“We stand by all those who are fighting for democracy, the rule of law, equality & human rights in Turkey. Now, after years of authoritarian leadership under President Erdoğan, there is a real chance to return to democracy and the rule of law. That is why we are asking everyone who is a resident of Germany and eligible to vote in Turkey to vote in Turkey’s parliamentary and presidential elections and to support the process of democratic change. Specifically, I call for the election of the HDP [Peoples’ Democratic Party] under the umbrella of our sister party The Green Left – as well as the joint presidential candidate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Vote now until 9 May and ensure change in Turkish politics,” wrote Lang, sharing a link to an article in Der Spiegel in which the party’s position is detailed.
The party called on the European Union to prepare to intensify relations with Turkey in case the country returns to democracy and the rule of law.
Germany’s Greens have previously voiced concerns over fair elections in Turkey, with Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir noting that in past elections Erdoğan “had political opponents locked up … and massively restricted freedom of assembly and information”, thus the concerns that elections may be manipulated or that Erdoğan may not resign “are not unfounded.”
The German Greens hold five seats in the German federal cabinet, which includes Annalena Baerbock as the federal minister for Foreign Affairs. With the party holding a key position in the Foreign Ministry, their unprecedented declaration carries weight in European politics.
