Erdogan tells German Turks not to vote for Angela Merkel

Background
Despite the close relations between Germany and Turkey in terms of trade, both being NATO members, and large numbers of Turkish citizens living in Germany, 2017 had seen an increase in tension between the two countries.

In July 2017 it was announced that that the German government was planning a 'reorientation' of its relations with Turkey in response to the arrest of human rights activists in Turkey.

The government had changed its advice for those wishing to travel to the country, an armaments deal had apparently been scrapped and loans and investments were to be revised.

There were other issues of tension in relations between the two countries:

Germany and Turkey fail to agree on Incirlik airbase, June 2017
Understanding Turkey’s Anger With The West, April 2017
Should Europe ban AKP rallies?, March 2017
German journalist Deniz Yücel arrested in Turkey
German minister tags Turkey as hub for Islamists | Merkel tells Germany's Turkish community to show 'loyalty'.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticised Germany's three main political parties (CDU, SPD and the Greens) as 'enemies of Turkey' on the 18 August 2017 ahead of federal parliamentary elections in Germany on the 24 September 2017. The comments drew criticism from Chancellor Angela Merkel and other leading German politicians.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said they amounted to an 'unprecedented act of interference in the sovereignty of our country'.

Both CDU leader Angela Merkel and SPD leader Martin Schulz in their only direct live tv debate of the election campaign held on the 3 September 2017 said that there should be an end to EU-Turkey accession talks.

Deutsche Welle, 23.08.17: Turkey accuses German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel of copying racism and the far-right http://p.dw.com/p/2iihR

Politico, 23.08.17: Turkey’s EU minister likens Sigmar Gabriel to racists and the far-right http://www.politico.eu/article/turkeys-eu-minister-likens-sigmar-gabriel-to-racists-and-the-far-right/

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 05.09.17: The Big Holes in Germany’s Election Campaign http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/72995?lang=en

Deutsche Welle, 24.08.17: How will Turkish Germans vote in the country's upcoming election? http://p.dw.com/p/2inUs

Deutsche Welle, 04.09.17: Turkish officials tell Berlin to 'mind its own business' over arrested Germans http://p.dw.com/p/2jINr

BBC News, 18.08.17: Turkey's Erdogan says German leaders are enemies http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40973197

Euro|Topics: Debates, August 2017: Erdoğan's interference in German elections http://www.eurotopics.net/en/184669/erdogan-s-interference-in-german-elections

EurActiv, 18.08.17: Erdogan tells Turks in Germany to vote against Merkel http://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/erdogan-tells-turks-in-germany-to-vote-against-merkel/

The Local.de, 18.08.17: 'Unprecedented interference' as Erdogan tells Turks in Germany not to vote for 'enemies of Turkey' https://www.thelocal.de/20170818/erdogan-tells-turks-in-germany-not-to-vote-for-enemies-of-turkey-in-merkels-government

Hürriyet Daily News, 19.08.17: Erdoğan’s call to not to vote for Merkel, Schulz, Greens only aimed at Turkish-origin voters: Deputy PM http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/erdogans-call-to-not-to-vote-for-merkel-schulz-greens-only-aimed-at-turkish-origin-voters-deputy-pm.aspx?pageID=238&nid=116929

Euro|Topics: Debates, September 2017: Campaign intensifies Berlin-Ankara conflict http://www.eurotopics.net/en/185537/campaign-intensifies-berlin-ankara-conflict

ESO: Key Source: German federal election, 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/german-federal-election-2017/

ESO: Background information: What impact can Berlin have on the AKP regime? http://www.europeansources.info/record/what-impact-can-berlin-have-on-the-akp-regime/

---