Austria, Netherlands ‘contribute to the flourishing of racist political movements’

Turkey's Minister of European Union Affairs Ömer Çelik slammed a decision by Austria and the Netherlands to bar Turkish politicians from campaigning in the respective countries ahead of the upcoming June elections.

“The Netherlands followed suit after Austria and announced that they will not allow election campaign speeches and meetings before 24 June elections for our citizens living there. On the one hand, they block the exercise of most fundamental democratic rights and on the other hand they argue that ‘there are negative developments in terms of democracy in Turkey,’” Çelik tweeted, referring to a recent progress report released by the European Commission.

In the report, the European Commission praised Turkey’s migration policy, economic growth and strengthening regional cooperation but also claimed there was "serious backsliding on the rule of law, fundamental freedoms and freedom of expression."

“If democracy had the right to complain about this hypocrisy, it would have first sued those politicians who take such positions. It is obvious that Austrian and Dutch PMs do not hinge upon democratic values while taking these decisions. They just send their greetings to anti-Turkish and racist political movements,” Çelik said.

“With these approaches, Austria and the Netherlands only poison democratic values in their own countries. They contribute to the flourishing of racist political movements which are also hostile against EU values. Austria and the Netherlands must act with common sense. Should the door to damaging democratic values opened once, it will never be closed. Through this door, populism sneaks in first, then racist politics take over and finally politics of hatred prevail,” he added.

“With these decisions Austrian and Dutch PMs do harm to their own countries. In both countries, racist political movements flourish due to such approaches. Pursuing a certain way of democratic approach in Europe and another way out of Europe is not acceptable. If they want their statements on democracy to be credible, first of all they must take decisions far from anti-Turkish approach,” Çelik said.

Austria's right-wing coalition government is strongly opposed to Turkey joining the European Union, and its opposition to Turkish politicians campaigning in the country is now new. Austria has passed a law giving the government greater powers to ban foreign political gatherings.

Austria and the Netherlands are home to large Turkish communities.