Berlin, 27 apr. The German Minister of Agriculture, Cem Özdemir, considered today that a victory for the oppositionist Kemal Kilicdaroglu “would pave the way back to democracy” in Turkey and recalled that the polls give him options to prevail over President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The result of the elections “is more open than ever,” said Özdemir, in statements to the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND) portal, coinciding with the start of the foreign vote for the Turkish elections, to which 1.5 million resident citizens are summoned in Germany.
Özdemir, former leader of the Greens, is a reference figure among this group of essentially immigrant roots and in 1994 he became the first deputy of the Bundestag (Parliament) of Turkish origin.
It is not the first time that he has influenced the internal politics of the country of origin of his parents -he himself is born in Germany-, although this time he does so from his status as a member of the tripartite between Social Democrats, Greens and Liberals of Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
His repeated criticism of Erdogan, whom he has often reproached for his course towards totalitarianism, has earned him threats both from Ankara and from circles close to the Turkish president in Germany, for which he requires special police protection, including at his home. familiar.
This Thursday, foreign voting was opened to citizens of Turkish origin who, according to data from the German Foreign Ministry, will be able to exercise that right in the 16 polling stations throughout Germany.
The German-Turkish community is the largest of foreign origin in the country, with a total of 3.5 million members, of whom 1.5 million have the right to vote in Turkish elections.
The external vote will be possible until May 9, five days before the day of the presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey, on May 14 – or May 28, in case a second round is required.
Unlike what happened in previous elections, large electoral events are not planned in Germany in the presence of the presidential candidates.
Polls suggest that, for the first time in 20 years, Erdogan is not assured of re-election. EFE
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